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BROWN ENTERPRISE AND MARKETING 7830 STATE ROUTE 434 APALACHIN, NEW YORK 13732
APALACHIN • OWEGO • NICHOLS TIOGA CENTER • NEWARK VALLEY
CAMPVILLE • BARTON • CANDOR SMITHBORO • CATATONK
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER •
www.CommunityPress.us
JULY 2023
Volume 38
STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #9 APALACHIN, NY
Candor 4th of July Parade Was held Tuesday July 4th
Number 7
Food Rescue Program Initiated by Catholic Charities in Tioga
Jo DiFulvio with some packaged meals prepared with rescued foods.
Depot Friday Nights in Newark Valley The following shows are scheduled for Depot Friday Nights in July. The doors open at 6:00 pm, shows start at 7:00 pm: July 7 - The Irish Stoutmen July 14 - Dean Goble Band July 21 - Donna & the Country Mystics July 28 - Pat Kane & West o'Clare The following shows are scheduled in August. The doors open at 5:30 pm, shows are at 6:30 pm. August 4 - Ryan Wilson, Standards by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Mar-
tin, Zac Brown Band, CCR, Garth Brooks, and more. August 11 - Greg Neff, Singer and songwriter, music from the ’60s & ’70s. August 18 - Rick Pedro, Astonishing ragtime piano, patriotic, and modern classics. August 25 - Tom and Marie, cover tunes from the ’60s and ’70s on acoustic guitar and bass. Refreshments are available. You can bring your own lawn chairs. The Newark Valley Depot is on Depot Street in Newark Valley.
Food waste happens in almost every household in America. According to Feeding America, the average American family of 4 throws away over $1,600 of produce every year. In NYS, approximately 3.9 million tons of food was discarded over the last year. All of this is happening at the same time that food insecurities are on the rise. The Tioga Outreach Center operated by Catholic Charities in Tioga receives on average 800 visits per month to the food pantry with the number of new families assisted up 50% from last year. With more individuals facing hunger throughout our county, Food Rescue is a viable answer to help alleviate some of the burdens that our local families are facing. Food Rescue is the practice of safely collecting edible, prepared foods from restaurants, grocers, and other food establishments, and then distributing it to local hunger relief agencies. Food Rescue simultaneously gets food to those who need it, reduces food waste, and minimizes the amount of toxic emissions from food waste in landfills. For many years already, local food pantries have partnered with grocery stores to arrange pick up of foods that are close to expiration or sell by dates to then offer to the community. The next step in Food Rescue is to save prepared foods and food prep waste from landfills. With recent updates to state and local laws and regulations regarding food waste, businesses are now expected to make arrangements to minimize their waste output, including transfer of foods to local pantries and compost to nearby farms. The Community Kitchen in the current Nichols location is fully certified and is the only location in the county initiating the expansion of Food Rescue efforts. Jo DiFulvio, Program Supervisor, says,
“We are implementing the Tioga FRESH program (Food Resources Everyone Should Have) and have already been working with some local businesses and organizations for the last year to get it up and running.” Tioga Downs Casino and Resort has been collaborating with CCTT (Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga) to minimize food waste over the last few months. In that time, almost 1,000 pounds of food has been rescued, packaged, and offered to those who visit the food pantry. CCTT is also working with organizations on composting options. DiFulvio states that as word is getting out, the local nonprofit has been getting calls from several local restaurants looking to participate. “We are fully committed to the development and progress of this program”, states DiFulvio. CCTT needs more volunteers to help this program GROW. Would you like to help transport food from restaurants to the Community Kitchen for packaging? Are you a restaurant/business looking for food waste and composting options? Please email jo.difulvio@dor.org or call 607-206-5335. When we stop food waste, we take a big step to ending hunger. CCTT is a member of Food Rescue Alliance.
Concerts in the Park This year’s Concerts in the Park began on June 28, and continues through August 20. The concerts are held in Hickories Park in Owego, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will move to the Owego Elks Lodge. This series of concerts is made possi-
ble in part with funding from the Town of Owego. The remaining concerts are: July 12 - The Watts July 19 - B3 July 26 - Alpha Brass Band Aug. 2 - Caviar & Grits Admission is free.