“Owego Hose Team Launces New Website” Hose Teams event dates released for 2026
Owego Hose Teams, Inc. launched its new website last month with assistance of Binghamton University (BU) School of Management students. Last updated in 2016, the website is more user friendly and now accepts multiple payment methods. The URL for the website is www.OwegoHoseTeams.com
“We appreciate the help BU afforded us on getting our website updated and back online,” said Hose Team Member Lou Striley. “Pat Gavin’s wife Amy had been managing the site but with a job, three kids, and all the other things she has going on we needed to get her some help.” Both undergraduate and graduate BU students work in small teams on realworld Information Technology (IT) projects for local organizations as part of the program. These projects typically provide about 240–300
hours of skilled student work that is free of charge. Students who assisted the Hose Team were Julie Kim, Julie Korman, and Mia Teregulov. The new website is just in time for several upcoming Hose Team events including their annual spring trout derby/chicken barbecue on Saturday, April 11th and its annual golf tournament on June 6th at Tioga Golf Club. The 65-team golf tournament is already at 50% capacity and is expected to be full soon. Chicken dinner orders, trout derby and golf signups with payment can be made on the new website. Venmo, credit card, and PayPal are now accepted methods of payment.
The Hose Team is awaiting word from Firefly Restorations in Maine to pick up the Owego Fire Department’s 1866 Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine hat has been under restoration there since October 2020. The Steamer will be showcased in the Strawberry Festival Parade and demonstrated on North Avenue during the festival. Learn more about the project on the Hose Team website.
Lions Mobile Food PantryApril 22
Foodbank Of the Southern Tier APALACHIN LIONS WALK-UP MOBILE
registrations)
If you register please attend Phone: 2-1-1 or Online: www.foodbankst.org/cfd Walk-up Pantry bring a cart or bags to carry food!
Town of Owego Brush Pick Up
The Town of Owego Highway Department will be picking up brush during the weeks of April 27,2026 and May 4, 2026. Brush pick up will be at random times throughout this timeframe due to scheduling of other road projects.
We remind residents of the Town of Owego oft he following guidelines:
Tree branches from your yard only
Branches cannot be larger than 6" in diameter nor longer than 8' in length
Place branches neatly along the curb/roadside in front of your home
Place the large end of the branch towards the road
No brush from lot clearing No contractors or landscapers
All large piles must be approved due to time constraints for pick up
The following items will not be accepted nor picked up: Tree trunks, Roots, Clippings from lawns flower beds or vegetable gardens, Thorny brush, Small twigs, Large diameter logs
Opening Day of 75th Season of Owego Little League - April 25
You are cordially invited to attend the parade and opening day ceremonies for Owego Little League 74th season on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The parade will begin forming at 8:00 am in front of the Owego Police Department on Temple Street and will begin promptly at 8:30 am. The field ceremonies will begin at 9:00 am at Hyde Park, with all players, coaches, league offi-
cials, and sponsors being represented.
If you wish to take part in the parade and/or opening ceremonies, please contact Owego Little League at owegolittleleague@gmail.com to confirm as soon as possible. Owego Little League members hope to see you on April 25th to help them celebrate their 75th season!
At the Apalachin Library
719 Main St. Apalachin, NY 607-625-3333
Open Mon, Tues, Thurs: 10am-7pm; Fri & Sat: 10am-2pm www.apalachinlibrary.org
Programs forApril
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.
Mahjong:
Mondays | 2pm-4pm No experience or registration required. 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 experience or registration required.
Euchre: Thursdays | 2pm-4pm No experience or registration required. Senior First Friday Program – Bunco and Lunch: Friday, April 3 | 11am-1pm Registration is required.
Pokémon Club: Saturday, April 4 | 11am-1pm Trade cards, do battles and eat snacks! No registration required.
Evening Book Club: Thursday, April 9 | 6pm Seed Giveaway: Saturday, April 11 | 11am-1pm Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Friends of the Library present the 3rd Annual Seed Giveaway. No registration required. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. No registration required.
Afternoon Book Club: Thursday, April 16 | 1pm Open Season by C. J. Box. No registration required. “Titanic: My Story” with John Pulos: Saturday, April 18 | 11am no registration required. Graphic Novel Workshop with Author Doogie Horner: Saturday, April 25 | 11am-1pm Registration is required. Spring Cleaning Workshop: Saturday, April 30 | 6pm See left for details. No registration required.
Rummage & Bake Sale
Rummage & Bake Sale, Saturday, April 18, 2026 9am-2pm. Bag sale at 1pm at the Little Meadows Methodist Church, 843 Pennsylvania Ave, Little Meadows, PA 18830 Call 570-623-2746 or send us an email lmumcc175@gmail.com
Donations being taken: Wednesday 4/15 & Thursday 4/16 from 9am to 6pm
We will be accepting: CLOTHINGAdult, children, and baby (no torn, no stained, or no soiled clothing),
winter coats, furniture, small appliances/household items (in working condition), jewelry, pictures, books Please NO electronics, no baby strollers,carseats,etc. Please DO NOT leave items when no one is at church.
Lunch will be available to purchase for eat in or take out.
All proceeds will be used for church missions and outreach programs. Thank you.
Experience a piece of history with a modern twist! The Tioga County Fair, proud to be the secondoldest fair in New York State, is officially returning to the fairgrounds in Owego from August 11 through August 15.
Continuing a legacy of community celebration, the fair offers the best deal in the Southern Tier with a $16 "All-In" Admission that includes unlimited midway rides, all grandstand shows, midway entertainment, and even parking.
Adrenaline-Packed Grandstand Lineup From crashing engines to thundering hooves, the 2026 grandstand schedule is packed with fan favorites:
Wednesday & Friday: The metalmashing Demolition Derby returns for two massive nights of destruction.
Thursday: A double-header of equestrian action! Local horse and riders compete in the high-speed Dash for Cash, followed by the return of the fan-favorite Broken B Rodeo.
Saturday: A day of pure power. The morning kicks off with "Out of the Field" Tractor Pulls for local bragging rights and cash prizes, culminating in the main event at 7:00 PM: the New York Hot Pullers Truck Pulls. World-Class Entertainment & Local Talent The Gillette Family is back on the midway, bringing their world-class midway show and a spectacular array of rides for all ages. The fair also invites local creators to showcase their talents. Residents are encouraged to finish up those sewing projects, paintings, or art pieces and enter them into the Arts and Crafts Competition.
The Heart of the Fair: Tioga County 4-H The true centerpiece of the Tioga County Fair re-
Free Mosaic Class
Come and create with us! Join us for a free mosaic class led by Jablon Studios in the Noble Room at 9 Park Street in Newark Valley on April 18th from 12-3pm. We will be making two mosaic coasters and would love for you to join us. We do ask that you preregister, since spaces are limited. Please reserve a spot by calling the village office at 607-6428686 or emailing deputyclerk@newarkvalleyvillage.com
mains the Tioga County 4-H youth displays. Visitors can explore the livestock barns, enjoy competitive shows, and witness the demonstrations that highlight the hard work and dedication of our community's youth. Fast Facts:
● When: August 11–15, 2026
● Where: Tioga County Fairgrounds, Owego, NY
● Cost: $16 (Includes unlimited rides, grandstand shows, midway entertainment, and parking)
For more information on the full schedule or to find out how to enter the arts and crafts competition, please visit www.tiogacofair.com or follow us on Facebook or instagram.
About the Tioga County Fair: The Tioga County Fair is the secondoldest fair in New York State, celebrating agriculture, youth education, and community entertainment in Owego, NY. Dedicated to providing affordable family fun, the fair showcases the best of the Southern Tier’s livestock, local talent, and highenergy grandstand events.
with your name, phone number, and email address. We can’t wait to see you there! This project is made possible with funds from Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.
& Chicken BBQApril 11th
Owego Hose Teams, Inc. in partnership with Tioga County Anglers and Trout Unlimited will host its 7th Annual Trout Derby, Saturday, April 11th. The contest for anglers of all ages will be held virtually or by checking fish in at Croton Hose Co. #3 Fire Station on Talcott Street. Last year 26 anglers participated in the event. Anglers 15 years old or younger continue to fish for free but must register and $100 will be awarded for largest brown and brook trout caught in the MAIN, EAST, and WEST branches of the Owego Creek.
Registration forms for the Trout Derby will be available at the Community Shop, Scott Smith & Son, and online registration is available at
the Hose Team website at www.OwegoHoseTeams.com. The registration deadline with $10 fee is Friday, April 10th and you must be registered to participate. Once registered you will be provided a unique number identifier by the Hose Team Friday night before the derby.
All registrants 16 years or older must have a valid New York State fishing license and abide by all New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) rules and regulations. Fly, spin, & bait fishing permitted. Winners will be announced shortly after 6 PM on Saturday, April 11th at Company #3’s Fire Station and via Facebook Live.
The $10 entry fee covers both the largest brook/brown trout categories. Contestants participating virtually are asked to post pictures of their trout caught to the hose team Facebook page @owegohoseteams or email to: owegohoseteams@gmail.com showing the trout with measuring device indicating the trout’s length and your unique number identifier.
A chicken BBQ will be held in conjunction with the Trout Derby but sold separately. Pre-order your chicken dinners on the Hose Team website, emailing the Hose Team, or by calling 202-494-9108. Company #3’s hospitality room will also be open. Area Trout Unlimited representatives will also be onsite with information about several of their important Owego Creek projects.
Tioga County Legislative Meeting
The Fourth Regular Meeting of 2026 will be held at 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in the Edward D. Hubbard Auditorium of the Ronald E. Dougherty County Office Building at 56 Main Street, Owego, New York 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.
Years Ago
It's April 1976. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs form the Apple Computer Company and introduce the Apple I computer at the Homebrew Computer Club. The Apple I has a CPU speed of 1Mhz and sells for $666.66.
Billionaire recluse Howard Hughes, 70, dies during a flight from Mexico to Texas.
A new $2 bill is released on Jefferson's birthday. The reverse features an image of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The government. The government hopes that the new $2 will decrease the demand for one dollar bills.
Patty Hearst, 22, is sentenced to 35 years in prison for bank robbery and for using a firearm to commit a felony. However, the judge will reduce her sentence after she undergoes more psychiatric examinations.
WEDNESDAY WING NIGHT
Sign up for our Spring Golf Tournament Saturday April 25th 10 am Stop In for more details FRIDAY Deep fried Haddock
President Ford signs a bill to set up and finance an inoculation program against Swine Flu.
Two policemen at Loch Ness, Scotland, say they sighted a mysterious object which they believe to be the Loch Ness Monster.
At the Tony Awards, A Chorus Line is chosen Best Musical, and Travesties is chosen Best Play. Richard Burton receives a special award as actor of the year.
ABC hires Barbara Walters to cohost the ABC evening news. Her salary is reported to be $1 million a year Hubert Humphrey says he will not campaign for the Presidency but if his party should need him or nominate him, he would be ready to serve. Humphrey intends to run for re-election to the Senate.
Mike Jackson of Owego is named 1976 Boy of the Year by the Tioga County Boy's Club.
On Palm Sunday, a spring snow storm leaves one to two inches of snow on the ground.
Singer in Kirkwood becomes the first major employer in Broome County to allow non-production workers to use a flexible hours system.
The Tioga County Sheriff's Department wants to start a Wive's Awareness Program which would allow deputies' wives to join them on an 8-hour shift every three months.
On Easter Sunday, the temperature reaches 90 degrees.
by: Beverly Brown
The Spot Arts & Crafts Shop is offering a Bicentennial Costume Workshop.
The grandstand and administration building are under construction at Tioga Park, a quarter horse racetrack in Nichols (pictured above).
Ashcraft Excavating Company of Apalachin requests permission to build the 19-house Maryvale subdivision on 7 1/2 acres between McFadden Road and Lane Court. Many local residents object to the subdivision because of dangerous overcrowding, poor drainage, and traffic congestion.
Stephens Square opens in downtown Binghamton. The 12-store shopping complex on State Street is housed in an 88-year-old renovated tobacco warehouse.
Tioga County officially opens their Bicentennial Celebration by dedicating nine new trees planted on the courthouse lawn. The trees - which represent the county's nine towns - are tagged by a Boy and Girl Scout from that town and watered by a descendant of an early settler of the county. George Penney is the Master of Ceremonies for the event which includes an invocation by Rev. Elmer Schmidt of St. Margaret Mary's Church, and a flintlock salute by the Brigade of the American Revolution with authentic muskets.
Tuesday night TV shows include Movin' On, The Rookies, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Police Women, M*A*S*H, One Day at a Time, and City of Angels Movies playing in local theaters include Lipstick, All the President's Men with Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, Blazing Saddles, The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox, Dumbo, The Bad News Bears, and Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot
Would you like to HELP?
The Apalachin Lions are looking for help with the cleanup of Rt 434 on Saturday Apil 25th at 9 AM.
For more information or questions please call Lion Paul Huonker at 6252727.
The cleanup crew will meet at BEAM ELECTRONICS next Dunkin Donuts on Rt 434. The amount of time normally spent is approximately 2 hours to pick up and bag trash along a designated three-mile stretch of Rt 434 in Apalachin. Please bring work gloves and dress for the weather; all clean up supplies will be furnished.
Tioga County Rural Ministry Presents Designer Purse Bingo
April 26 1pm to 4pm at the Owego Moose Lodge, 3 Goodrich Rd. Owego, NY Tickets are $40 in advanced, $50 at the door and can be purchased at the TCRM office or at website www.tcrm.org. Limited VIP Tables $450 (seats 8). Enjoy the VIP experience with the early entry, a private table with your friends, special food items, and more!
