Tioga County Fair Returns to Owego
August 5–9, 2025
AWeek of Tradition, Agriculture & Family Fun
The Tioga County Fair is back and bringing five days of excitement, tradition, and entertainment to the Tioga County Fairgrounds in Owego, New York, from Tuesday, August 5 through Saturday, August 9, 2025.
This year’s fair offers a lively mix of agricultural exhibits, thrilling motorsports, local vendors, and the return of midway rides starting Wednesday. The fair kicks off Tues-
Tuesday August 5th Free Admission; NO CARNIVAL*Family Fun & Agriculture Day*Grandstand Event: **There will be a Farmer’s Market this day. Please contact TiogaCoFairNY@gmail.com to become a Farmer’s Market Vendor
Wednesday August 6th Carnival & Midway 2pm-10pm*Barnyard Cackle Review-Multiple Shows Daily*Paul Antonio Magician & Comedian-Multiple Shows*Grandstand Event: Demolition Derby Heats
day with FREE admission for all who wish to walk the grounds and enjoy early exhibits and displays. (Please note: Midway rides will not open until Wednesday.)
“We’re excited to welcome families and fairgoers back for another fantastic year,” said Eric Johnson, President of the Tioga County Fair. “This event is a celebration of community, agriculture, and summer fun for all ages.”
Thursday August 7th Carnival & Midway 2pm-10pm*Barnyard Cackle Review-Multiple Shows Daily*Grandstand Event: Dash 4 Cash*Grandstand Event:Broken B Rodeo Co.- Bull riding, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, Jr. Barrel Racing, Team Roping
Friday August 8th Carnival & Midway 2pm-10pm*Barnyard Cackle ReviewMultiple Shows Daily*Paul Antonio Magician & Comedian-Multiple ShowsPower Wheels Derby- 6pm*Grandstand Event: Demolition Derby Finals
Saturday August 9th Carnival & Midway 12pm-10pmBarnyard Cackle Review-Multiple Shows DailyPaul Antonio Magician & Comedian-Multiple ShowsGrandstand Event: Out of Field Tractor Pulls-NoonGrandstand Event: New York Hot Farms Pulling Series-7pm
The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tioga Gardens, last month The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce honored the business for its half-century of service to the community. Tioga
is a popular, multigenerational garden supply store with 16 greenhouses located on route 17c in Owego.
The Foodbank Of the Southern Tier and the Apalachin Lions will hold a mobile food pantry on Wednesday August 27 from 10am to 11am. At St Margaret Mary’s Church at 1110 Pennsylvania Ave. Apalachin. Pre registration is required. Registration is Tuesday Au-
gust 26 at 8:30 am until full ( current limit of 125 registrations) If you register please attend. To register call 2-11 or on line at: www.foodbankst.org/cfd. This is a “Walk-Up Pantry” please bring a cart or bag to carry food!
Tioga County Treasurer Jim McFadden Honored as NACCTFO Outstanding Treasurer of the Year
County is
to announce that County Treasurer James McFadden has been named the Outstanding Treasurer of the Year by the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers,
719 Main St. Apalachin, NY 607-625-3333
Open Mon, Tues, Thurs: 10am-7pm; Fri & Sat: 10am-2pm www.apalachinlibrary.org
Programs forAugust
Storytime: Tuesdays and Thursdays | 10:30am Join Miss Wendy for read alouds, singing, playing, dancing, and crafts! Tuesday and Thursday each week are the same theme. No registration required. Please note: there will be no Storytime from 8/26-9/4. Storytime will resume on Tuesday, 9/9.
Mahjong: Mondays | 2pm-4pm Please note: there will be no Mahjong on 8/18.
Tech Time with Tina: Tuesdays By Appointment Sign up for some one-on-one help with any tech topic!
Zen Before Zzzzzs: Tuesdays | 6pm Grab your yoga mat and join yoga instructor Sheehan Shotwell for an inspiring yoga practice each week. No registration required. Please note: there will be no yoga on 8/19 and 8/26.
Euchre: Thursdays | 2pm-4pm No experience or registration required.
Senior First Friday Program: Generations of Fun and Lunch: Friday, August 1 | 11am-1pm Trivia, pizza and generations of fun. Registration is required.
Pokémon Club: Saturday, August 2 | 11am-1pm Trade cards, do battles and eat snacks! No registration required. No registration required.
Evening Book Club: Thursday, August 14 | 6:30pm Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown No registration required. The September book will be determined.
Stories with Music “Little Red Riding Hood”: With musicians from the orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. Friday, August 15 | 11am
Kids Painting Class with Miss Vanessa: Saturday, August 16 | 11am-1pm Registration is required. WAITLIST ONLY
American Girl Program: Monday, August 18 | 1pm-3pm Put your hair up in a side ponytail and grab your legwarmers because Courtney is the American Girl for the year’s American Girl Program! Space is limited, participants must be at least 8 years old, and registration is required. It’s going to be tubular!!!!
Afternoon Book Club: Thursday, August 21 | 1pm Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead No registration required. The September book will be The Long Call by Ann Cleves.
*Adults Only*
Spicy Book Reading with Darcy Branwyn: Thursday, August 21 | 6pm
Jane Austen Movie Club
Clueless: Monday, August 25 | 4pm No registration required.
Stuffy Sleepover:
Thursday, August 28 | 6pm Join us for a special evening Pajama Storytime, then leave your stuffy at the library for the night to see what kind of mischief they get into! No registration required.
Free Ice Cream Social and Bon Fire
It’s that time of the summer again. Let’s enjoy some Ice Cream together! You are not going to want to miss Park Terrace United Methodist Church’s Ice Cream Social & Bon Fire Night of the Summer. Everyone is encouraged to bring family
and friends for an evening of fun & fellowship.
Tuesday, August 26th 6:00 p.m. at the Park Terrace Community United Methodist Church, 30 Glann Road Apalachin, NY
Tioga County Meeting Notice
The Eighth Regular Meeting of 2025 will be held at 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, August 12, 2025, in the Edward D. Hubbard Auditorium of the Ronald E. Dougherty County Office Building at 56 Main Street, Owego, New York 13827. All Committee Meetings and Legislative Worksessions will be held in the Legislative Conference Room of the Ronald E.
Dougherty County Office Building at 56 Main Street, Owego, NY 13827. Individuals requiring any accommodation or auxiliary aid may contact the Legislative Office at (607) 687-8240. With advance notice, necessary auxiliary aids will be provided at no cost to the person requesting assistance.
“Owego Firefighter Elected Central NY FirefighterAssociation President”
Gavin will lead regional fire service organization through 2027.
At the Central New York Firefighter’s Association (CNYFA) 131st Annual Convention held this past weekend in New York Mills, New York, Owego Firefighter Patrick Gavin was elected the association’s president for a two-year term. Gavin is a Life Member of Croton Hose Co. #3 of the Owego Fire Department and Captain/President of Owego Hose Teams, Inc., the department’s firematic racing team.
“It is my privilege to lead the men and women of Central the next two years,” said Gavin. “Being president is a job of work and work we will do for the betterment of the fire service.”
Founded in 1893 by Owego’s own Frank M. Baker, Gavin’s first cousin four (4) generations removed, the Central association supports and serves the volunteer fire service of Central New York, its firefighters and the public they protect through education, legislation, communication, recognition and community service. The association builds camaraderie among its members and forms a positive partnership with related organizations.
The 30-year interior firefighter and apparatus engineer has an ancestry in the fire service on both sides of his family that dates to the 1800s in Owego. His 3rd Great Uncle John D. Baker was a Founding Member of Croton Hose Company (reorganized) in 1853, and 3rd Great Grandfather James R. Baker was Founding Foreman of Engine Company #6 in 1857. Gavin’s Grandfather Walt Pianosi, served as Owego Fire Chief from 1982 – 1984 and youngest brother Danny Gavin was Owego Fire Chief from 2015-2019. Gavin’s father, Fallen Owego Firefighter Stephen G. Gavin, died in the line of duty (LODD) while battling a lumber yard fire in 2003. Stephen’s father Girard
was Life Member and Past President of Susquehanna Hose Co. #1 before his passing in 1970. Brothers Patrick, Tim, and Danny Gavin remain firefighters today.
Gavin said, “My family and I know all too well the sacrifices and hardships our volunteers make to protect us every day. We have a long and storied fire service history in the area I am proud to carry on.” Gavin has served as CNYFA Vice President the past four (4) years and recently testified before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on its proposed Emergency Response Standard for the association. The standard aims to update and expand protections for emergency responders, but Gavin other volunteer fire service leaders are concerned about the potential financial and operational burdens the regulations could place on volunteers. “The volunteer fire service nationally, and New York in particular, has been at the forefront on the OSHA issue,” said Gavin. ‘We need to ensure OSHA gets it right for our already struggling volunteer fire service.” New York fire service leaders are in current negotiations with OSHA over the final rule.
As CNYFA President, Gavin’s goals are to expand the association’s membership, stabilize its financial footing, and a renewed focused on tactics, training, & health/wellness for the boots on the ground firefighters. The association represents 20 counties comprised of 14,000 volunteer firefighters from nearly 500 fire departments in Central New York. This is the fourth (4th) time an Owego Firefighter has served as CNYFA President in the association’s 132year history. Frank Baker served as president from 1893 through 1898, Stuart W. Smyth from 1915-1916, Floyd Angel from 1953-1954 and now Gavin all from the Owego Fire Department.
Owego will host the 2027 Central annual convention last held in Owego in 2021. CNYFA convention activities will include hose races, firefighter’s parade, fireworks, block party and much more. 2027 also concludes Gavin’s two-year term as Central President.
Tioga CountyAcknowledges Award of NYS County Infrastructure Grant
Tioga County is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the New York State County Infrastructure Grant, a competitive funding initiative from the Governor’s Office designed to support strategic infrastructure investments across the state. The Tioga County Legislature is always looking for ways to improve services for the public and to maximize the resources available to the County - this funding, while awarded by the Governor’s Office far sooner than anticipated, marks a critical opportunity for infrastructure enhancement and improvement of services in the County.
County Administrator Jackson D. Bailey II expressed the County’s appreciation, stating:
“We are honored to receive this important grant award and thank New York State for its continued support of County -level infrastructure improvements. This funding presents a significant opportunity for Tioga County to invest in longterm projects that will strengthen our public services and facilities.”
While the County is excited to be selected for this funding opportunity, it is important for the public to understand that the project is still in the early stages of planning and acquisition. The County Legislature and County Administrator are actively engaged in due diligence, including evaluating potential opportunities, and outlining future steps to ensure that any investment is responsible, sustainable and aligned with the best interest of Tioga County residents.
“The Legislature and County Administrator are committed to responsible planning and transparency” said Martha Sauerbrey, Legislative Chair. “We are taking a thoughtful and measured approach to ensure that any proposed project is fiscally responsible, strategically beneficial, and in the best interest of the public.”
Tioga County looks forward to working closely with state partners, local stakeholders, and the public as plans continue to evolve.
“Owego Hose Team Competes in CNY Firematics”
Owego Hose Teams, Inc. competed in the firematic hose races held at the 131th Annual Central New York Firefighter’s Association (CNYFA) convention last weekend in New York Mills. The races are timed events where firefighters test their skills. Teams of five members must connect nozzles to hoses, hoses to hoses, and hoses to the fire hydrant, and knock down targets in the quickest time.
Owego placed first in Ladder, Wye, and Straight Lay Races defeating competitors from Homer, New York Mills, Oriskany, Westmoreland, and Whitesboro Fire Departments. Owego team members included Kaleb Ellis, Danny Gavin, Tim Gavin, Pat Gavin and Mike
MacNaughton. Race times for Owego were as follows:
First (1st) Place Ladder RaceOwego Hose Team – 15.37 seconds. First (1st) Place Wye Race - Owego Hose Team – 32.16 seconds
First (1st) Place Straight Lay –Owego Hose Team – 17.97 seconds
Hose races improve basic firefighting skills and will return to Owego in 2027 as part of the Central convention last held in Owego in 2021. One of the first recorded hose race competition held in Owego was in 1895 at the Owego Driving Park with prizes awarded to teams winning the hook and ladder and hose relay competitions. Tentative dates for the 2027 convention are July 811.
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by Beverly Brown
It's August 1975.
There's a devastating fire on Owego's River Row (see photos). The early morning (1:00 am) fire completely destroys 168 and 172 Front Street, home of an antique store. The fire causes heavy damage to the roofs and third floors of 174 Front Street, Langes TV, and 176 Front Street, where The American Tradition was set to open next week. Owners of the damaged building hope to repair.
Bill Martin replaces Bill Virdon as manager of the Yankees.
The FBI opens an investigation into the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.
England's Queen Mother celebrates her 75th birthday.
President Ford restores full citizenship to General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army.
The Unites States vetoes the entrance of Vietnam into the UN.
Yogi Berra, manager of the New York Mets, is fired and replaced by Roy McMillan.
Dring an interview on 60 Minutes, First Lady Betty Ford says that she would not be surprised if her 18-yearold daughter, Susan, were having an affair.
resident Ford visits a camp in Arkansas for Vietnam refugees. Eighteen thousand refugees line the road to watch the President arrive.
The last Corvette Convertible rolls
by: Beverly Brown
off the assembly line in St. Louis. The car costs $8,300.
The first Chevrolet Chevette rolls off the assembly line. The car costs less than $3,000.
The United States lifts the 12-year ban on exports to Cuba.
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia dies.
Eamon DeValera, former President of Ireland and participant in the 1916 Easter Rebellion, dies at the age of 92.
Governor Carey signs a bill making pay toilets illegal in New York.
Speed limit signs with "kilometers per hour" are being put up next to those with "miles per hour."
Psychic Philip Jordan, 25, of Spencer helps police find a 5-year-old boy who had been missing for 12 hours near Empire Lake.
The Tioga County Fair features demolition derbies, harness racing, a puppet show, fireworks, and amateur boxing. Admission is $1.50.
An Endicott man is shot and killed when he tries to intervene in a family argument.
A wage study reveals that office workers in the Triple Cities area earn below the national average. The average salary of clerk-typists in our area is $109 per week. The national average is $134. The average salary of local computer programmers is $203 per week. The national average is $245.
A severe thunderstorm with very strong winds rips through the Southern Tier causing tornado-like damage. There is a shooting at Binghamton General Hospital. A former patient of the alcohol detoxification unit returns to the hospital drunk and with a rifle. Demanding to be readmitted, he shoots a nursing supervisor and a patient before he is shot and killed by the police.
Pioneer Cablevision Corporation of Vestal offers it customers 12 channels: all local channels, two from the Scranton area, one from Elmira, three from Syracuse, channels 9 and 11 from New York City, and HBO - plus FM cable service!
Friday night TV shows include Sanford and Son, Chico and the Man, The Rockford Files, Police Woman, Washington Week in Review, and Wall StreetWeek
Top tunes include Jive Talkin' by the Bee Gees, I'm Not in Love by 10cc, Fallen' in Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, and Someone Saved My LifeTonight by Elton John.
We're wearing Earth Shoes with a 'negative' heel that slopes backward to simulate the effect of walking barefoot on the beach. Prices range from $29.00 to $49.50.
