• WCDO Radio • New York Pizzeria •• Norwich Family YMCA • • Hayes Office Products •

• Chase Memorial Nursing Home •• Kuntriset Kitchens & Baths •• Nazzitto’s Wines & Liquors •

• Smith Ford, LLC •

ADVERTISERS

Chenango’s Farm Bureau takes itto a national level.

Page 39

Morrisville’sNorwichCampuslooks toexpand itsreach.

Page 40

The Annual Comprehensive Picture Of Our Business World’s New Ventures, Ideas & Growth In Chenango County.PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN, NORWICH, N.Y. • JANUARY 2009

PR GRESSCHENANGO

S E C T I O N

6

DDDDOOOO WWWW NNNN TTTT OOOO WWWW NNNN SSSSHHHHEEEERRRRBBBBUUUURRRRNNNNEEEE

PHOTO BY JEFF GENUNG

Marching to thebeat of a differentdrummer

BY JESSICA LEWISThe Evening Sun

From hardware to designernames, the selection in down-town Sherburne draws sports

enthusiasts, meat connoisseurs andeven the fashionistas.

“While we work to fight big box retailers,like many other small communities, we havea great selection and variety of small, retailbusinesses catering to all levels of retailtrades, from gifts to dry goods to groceries,”said Sherburne Mayor William Acee.

Sherburne’s diverse range of stores can beseen when driving down Main Street throughthe village. On one end of town is SherburneSports, a popular destination for the areasATV, boat, motorcycle and snowmobileenthusiasts. Owner Burt Matott Jr. has operat-ed the shop for the past eight years, two ofwhich he’s spent at his current location at 84North Main St. However, Matott said work-ing in the sporting industry is somethingthat’s been in his veins for much longer thanthat. “I grew up in the business,” Matott said,explaining that his family owned a similarstore in the Syracuse area. “When I wasn’t incollege, I was working at the family busi-ness,” he said.

Eight years ago, Matott decided he wantedto go into business for himself, and a sportingstore seemed like the perfect fit. The storespecializes in parts and accessories for allmakes of motorcycles, ATVs, boats andsnowmobiles. “It’s a very good market,”Matott said. “A lot of our business is in parts.If people aren’t buying new, they’re fixing upthe equipment they already have.”

While Matott said a lot of his business

comes from repeat customers, he said he hasseen an increase in new customers as well.“We’ve done some advertising on our build-ing. People didn’t realize exactly what typesof products we carried, or that we carriedproducts year round,” Matott said.

The sports shop owner said his most popu-lar items are probably the clothing and outfitsassociated with the different motor sports.“We sell a lot of gear,” Matott said. Heexplained that what has kept his specialtybusiness going over the years is the servicethe customers receive. “We try to go the extramile. We get parts and keep them, so cus-tomers don’t have to wait two or three weeksto get the items they need,” Matott said.

Predicting the needs of the customers issomething that the employees of Skip’s IGAhave been doing for the past 30 years. Open-ing in 1979, Skip’s has always carried a rangeof grocery items, but what has kept customerscoming back is the specialty meat depart-ment. “All of our meat is fresh cut,” said man-ager Steve Youngs. “You can order one porkchop or 100. Nothing is pre-packaged.”

Offering fresh meats was something thatSkip’s wanted to do from the very beginning,Youngs said; however he noted it’s not theonly thing. “You can still come in and get acan of soup if you want to,” Youngs said.While the meat department is the store’sbiggest draw, Youngs said people are alsodrawn to Skip’s for the deli products andfresh-made subs and the quality service thatcustomers receive every day.

“We’re consistent every week,” Youngssaid of the family owned grocery store. Heexplained that while the meat is not all local,it is choice beef, which is one grade up fromthe select grade offered at most stores. “Peo-ple come back because of the service and the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 ...

Burt Matott, Jr., owner of Sherburne Sports, has been working in theautomotive sports business for most of his life. After working in thefamily business for many years, Matott learned what the customerswant – service and a selection of parts and accessories for their boats,bikes, snowmobiles and ATVs.

Quality fresh meat and fast, friendly service have made Skip’s IGA apopular shopping destination over the last 30 years. The store’ssuccess, according to manager Steve Youngs, is due to the fact that themeat is cut fresh every day, and nothing is ever pre-packaged.

38 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN

Great Variety Of Music

Up To Date Local News

High School Sports

Community Information

Daily Contests

Your Favorite Music from Yesterdayand Today

75 Main St., Sidney, NY 13838 (607-563-3588)CHRIS CAPPELLOSports Director

KERRI INSINGASales Manager

ROB RAYOn-Air (mornings)

CRAIG STEVENSGeneral Manager

JOE GARDNERTraffic Manager/On Air

JIM TOMEOOn-Air (afternoons)

TINA POPEOffice Manager

SPECIAL RECOGNITION/AWARDS•2007 CHENANGO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “VOLUNTEER OF THE

YEAR” AWARD RECIPIENT - WCDO’S KERRI INSINGA

•2007 - SPECIAL HONORS RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S TRI-TOWN “RELAY FOR LIFE”

•2006 - RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING FLOOD COVERAGE BY ASSEMBLYMAN CLIFF CROUCH, SENATOR TOM LIBOUS, CHENANGO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE SIDNEY AND BAINBRIDGE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND DELAWARE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT

•2003 - SIDNEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “BUSINESS OF THE YEAR”

•TWO TIME NEW YORK STATE BROADCASTER AWARD WINNER FOR OUTSTANDING COVERAGE OF THE GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA.

DDOOWWNNTTOOWWNN SSHHEERRBBUURRNNEE

meat,” Youngs said. While Sherburne Sports

and Skip’s IGA have therecreational and grocery mar-kets covered, one of Sher-burne’s most popular retailersspecializes in somethingcompletely different. TheCat’s Meow has been operat-ing in Sherburne for 36 years,and despite their time in busi-ness, the store has continuedto offer an array of new andexciting products that keepcustomers coming back formore.

“We sell any number ofthings,” said manager BeckyHolcomb. The most popularare Vera Bradley handbagsand luggage, Jim Shore fig-urines, Boyd’s Bears and anew line of plush teddy bearscalled Bearington. In addi-tion, Holcomb said, the ParkPottery line continues to be abig seller, especially forbridal registries.

The Cat’s Meow is a spe-cialty boutique with twofloors of unique and interest-ing items. Most of the prod-ucts are handpicked by ownerMarilyn Crouch, but Hol-comb explained, “We try notto carry a lot of items thateveryone else carries orthings that might not lookright for the store.” By select-ing items that you can’t findin other stores, The Cat’sMeow has become a destina-tion point for many shoppers.“People travel from every-where to come to our store,”Holcomb said.

In addition to the array of

boutique items, The Cat’sMeow also has an extensiveline of clothing. “We have awide variety. There’s a littlebit of everything,” Holcombsaid.

After 36 years in business,Holcomb said The Cat’sMeow’s success is due totheir unique products andattention to the customers.“The customers make sug-gestions and we try our bestto accommodate them when

we can.”While the mayor explained

that Sherburne has a diverserange of retailers, he addedthat the community is work-ing to increase the retail pres-ence in Sherburne. “There’salways room for improve-ment and we strive for aneven more vibrant down-town. Our main tool in thateffort is our revolving loanprogram,” Acee said. In thepast, Sherburne’s revolving

loan program has helpedbusinesses like Trend Settersand Bob Pinney’s AmericanKarate Studio to get off theground. Acee said the villagewould love to see someonework to bring back the Sher-burne Inn. “We would love tohelp somebody become theoperator of the SherburneInn,” Acee said.

Small town diversity keepsbusiness humming –

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

The Cat’s Meow carries an array of unique products that bringcustomers from all areas to downtown Sherburne. Above, storeemployee Holly stands in front of a display of Vera Bradley handbags,one of the store’s most popular collections.

Success StoriesGreat Brook Enterprises

With so much emphasis these days on going “GREEN,”Great Brook Enterprises is going STRONG. Owner DavidAustin started Great Brook Enterprises over 30 years ago forthe purpose of providing alternatives to “conventional” ener-gy sources that had been growing more expensive and lessavailable.

Great Brook Enterprises installs complete customizedalternative energy systems throughout central New York andis extremely knowledge about all the products they sell andinstall. In fact, they are one of the oldest renewable energysystem installers in New York State. They offer a 5 year war-ranty on their Grid Tied Solar PV systems and a 3 year war-ranty on installed Solar Domestic Hot Water systems. GreatBrook also offers an annual renewable service/maintenancecontract.

Dave Austin is a NABCEP Certified PV installer and hashad continuous field experience since 1978, he also is amember of NYSEIA (New York Solar Energy IndustriesAssoc.). Great Brook Enterprises started as a one man oper-ation. As the demand for system installations grew so didGreat Brook Enterprises. In 2008 Dave had 6 full timeemployees, 4 system installers and 2 office staff. If thisdemand continues, Great Brook Enterprises will need to hireadditional employees in the future.

Currently New York State offers incentives for Grid TiedPV systems and the Federal and New York tax credits havegotten better. For more information on the tax credits you cango to www.dsireusa.org

Great Brook Enterprises charges $150.00 site survey feewhich is fully refundable when you purchase a system to fityour needs. If you would like to find out if your home orbusiness could benefit from an alternative energy system,visit their website at www.awesomesonsolar.com or call theoffice at 607-847-6366 to request your personal site survey.

Steel Sales Inc.Steel Sales Inc. is a full service metal fabrication shop as

well as a distributor of many products. It is a certifiedWoman Owned Business.

Steel Sales Inc. offers competitive prices with excellentservice for a few stock lengths, a few cut pieces or truckloadsof steel. They can shear 1/2” x 12’ mild steel, saw up to 10”x 16”, roll 1/2” x 8’ mild steel, and bend 3/8” x 10’ mild steel.They also offer a variety of punching and welding services ofall metals, along with pipe threading for 1/2” to 4” pipe.They have a CNC Plasma table with 8’ x 24’ sheet/platecapabilities.

Steel Sales Inc. distributes many different metals in a widevariety of sizes and shapes. Please visitwww.steelsalesinc.com, call 1-800-238-7833, 674-6363, ore-mail us steel@steelsalesinc.com with any questions orinquiries. If your project has anything to do with steel, alu-minum, galvanized or stainless steel Steel Sales Inc. canhelp. Since 1963 Steel Sales Inc. has been here to serve allyour metal needs.

PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009 39

Norwich FamilyYMCA

68-70 North Broad StreetNorwich, New York 13815607-336-9622 (Telephone)

www.norwichymca.com

SEE ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU AT:

Child Care

Fitness Aquatics

Sports

“Your Norwich Family YMCA”147 Years Serving Your Community

Look At Us Now!From Youth to Senior... We have a program for You!

Cycling and Spin, Strengthen, Stretch, Power-Toning, Strength Training and “Start Strong”

Cardio-KnockoutButts and GutsOutreach FitnessAdult Strength TrainingYouth Strength TrainingPersonal Training

Cardio-ComboCardio-SurpriseCardio-StrengthToning BlastBoot CampYogaPilatesYogaballQuick SpinSenior WorkoutStep & Body BlitzSpinnervalsZumbaSpinning DrillsSpin for StrengthTai ChiStep & toneCore & StrengthSwing into SpringBeginner Spin

Swim LessonsSwim TeamFamily SwimAdult Open SwimYouth Open SwimWater ArthritisWater FitnessLifeguardingPool RentalGreene PoolUnadilla Valley Pool

Nursery School and PreschoolAfter School ProgramFun ClubKids ClubKids GymFamily Nights

After School Programs • Bainbridge • Oxford • Unadilla ValleyEarly Morning ProgramChild WatchDay Camp

Baseball T-BallDevelopmental

Basketball YouthChenango

County Vipers AAU

Travel Pee WeeHigh School

LeaguesWomen’s Corporate 35 and OverNoontime

Football PeeWee Flag Flag

Pickleball Pickleball

Racquetball Adult League

Soccer IndoorPee Wee Indoor Pee Wee Outdoor

ww

w.h

ayes

offi

ce.c

om

UNDER ONE ROOFUNDER ONE ROOF

• Convenience Office Supplies• Full Service Copy Center

• Shipping Services

www.jcp.com • 607-336-5437

Mon.-Wed. 10-9;Thurs., Fri., Sat. 10-10; Sun. 11-9

Welcome to New YorkPizzeria & Restaurant

NEW YORK PIZZERIASo. Main St., New Berlin, N.Y.

607-847-6188

Casual Dining and Catering Come in,

relax & enjoy!

Our Hot DeliciousHand Tossed PizzaServed for Over 25 Years

CALL FOR OUR DAILY SPECIALSAlso serving beer & wine.

Our business is built on traditional values that have always provided strong family foundations - honesty, mutual respect, hard work and doing your best. That’s why it’s always a thrill when loyal customers treat us like family as well!

Tante Grazie!The Baio Family

CCHHEENNAANNGGOO CCOOUUNNTTYY FFAARRMM BBUURREEAAUU

Keeping things growing in Chenango CountyBY MELISSA STAGNARO

The Evening Sun

Earlier this month,Bradd Vickers stoodon a stage in a San

Antonio ballroom to accepta national award on behalfof Chenango County farm-ers.

The honor proves onceagain that when it comes topromoting agricultural inter-ests, the Chenango CountyFarm Bureau is at the head ofthe pack.

“We tend to be a moreaggressive county FarmBureau than most,” saidVickers, president of theorganization which hasdevoted its resources to keep-ing farms growing in andaround Chenango County formore than 50 years.

This award, the eleventhpresented to the CCFB in thelast 14 years by the AmericanFarm Bureau Federation, rec-ognized the local group for itsefforts to educate locallandowners on the intricaciesof natural gas leasing.

“The role we play is to edu-cate them on the options onthe table and then they canmake an informed decision,”said Vickers, explaining thepurpose behind the “Multilevel approach to the Oil/GasRush” project which gainedthem the national attention.

Central New York’s bud-ding natural gas industry hasbeen one of the many itemson the CCFB agenda for sev-eral years.

“We aren’t opposed to gasdrilling,” Vickers explained.“We want to make sure leaseagreements are fair and equi-table to property owners and

ensure environmentallysound practices to make surethat those farms are still capa-ble of producing safe foodand fiber products for thecommunity.”

Many farmers are “on theedge” financially, said Vick-ers, and natural gas couldprovide a viable economicsolution for sustaining thesefarms in the future – but hewants to see it done right.

Vickers has become some-thing of an expert on naturalgas issues, both in ChenangoCounty and around the state.He has developed relation-ships with leaders in othergas producing areas aroundthe country as well.

“We have a lot of partner-ships,” Vickers said.

The CCFB office in Nor-wich often serves as a clear-inghouse for information onthe Marcellus Shale Forma-tion and the drilling process,as well as controversial top-ics like the impact on localwater, land disturbances,industry oversight, seismictesting and hydro-fracking.

“I’m amazed at the callsthat come in this office,” saidRainy Collins-Vickers, whohandles the daily operationsof the organization and chairsthe Promotion and EducationCommittee.

While Vickers said heexpects natural gas explo-ration to remain a prominentfocus of the organization inthe foreseeable future, thereare issues of concern for localfarmers.

New York Regional Inter-connect, the proposed 190-mile electric transmissionline which threatens to bisectlocal communities along itsroute, is one of these con-

cerns. According to Vickers,hundreds of acres of farmlandcould be lost through eminentdomain if the project isapproved.

The CCFB advocatesinstead the development ofcogeneration facilities to pro-duce electricity from localnatural gas as a solution todownstate energy needs.

“Energy issues have beenand still will be on the frontburner,” said Vickers. TheCCFB supports the “25x25”initiative, with the goal of 25percent of our nation’s energybeing produced by agricul-ture by 2025.

Vickers is a staunch advo-cate of biodiesel and otheralternative fuels. In fact, heuses bio-diesel in his ownvehicle whenever possible.

“The less dependent we areon foreign oil, the better,” hesaid.

Collins-Vickers created acolorful flow chart in 2008depicting the process of cre-ating bio-diesel from locallygrown crops like apples,corn, soybeans and rapeseed,which is commonly sold asCanola oil.

Bio-diesel can also be pro-duced from waste cookingoil, something hotels and uni-versities often have in largesupply, added Vickers.

“There is a lot of thatpotential out there,” he said.

Environmental issues aresomething that is a constantconcern for the CCFB. Vick-ers is of the opinion thatfarmers are uniquely quali-fied to provide insight onthese matters.

“Who is more in-tunedwith the environment thanthe ag producer working hisproperty every day?” queriedVickers.

The advocacy group workshard to promote the interestsof agriculture not only local-ly, but also on the state andnational levels as well. Partof this involves lobbying leg-islators in Albany, whichVickers and a ChenangoCounty contingent do everyyear.

One of the primary purpos-es of these trips, Vickersexplained, is to make “down-state legislators understandthe importance of agricul-ture.” With a lot of newlyelected officials in the statecapitol, “stimulating newrelationships” will be a prior-ity this year.

Vickers said he tells legis-lators, “If you want to talkabout national security, let’stalk about our national foodsupply.”

There will also be anattempt to gain back ground

lost with Governor Paterson’sbudget proposal, he added,which cut funding to a lot ofagriculture-related agenciesand programs.

“It just doesn’t make senseto cut those things that ensurea quality, safe food supply foryour nation,” Vickers said.

These programs are vital toNew York’s farmers, heexplained, because there isalready less help out there forthem than other industries.

“To maintain agriculture,you either need to pay thecost of production, or tax-based incentives,” said Vick-ers. While there are manyprograms available for non-agriculture industry, throughorganizations like the Indus-trial Development Agency,they just don’t exist to thesame extent for farms.

“Often times we don’t putagriculture in the same sce-nario,” he explained.

Vickers devotes much ofhis time to what he calls“connecting the dots” locally.The CCFB works closelywith other local organiza-tions, like Opportunities forChenango and Cornell Coop-erative Extension.

One such collaborativeeffort has been to help lower-income families learn how togrow and prepare their ownfoods. The CCFB alsoencourages hunters to donatevenison to be distributedthrough area food pantries,called the Venison DonationProgram.

It all ties in with the CCFBgoal, he explained, to be“active community partici-pants representing the largestindustry in the county andNew York State.”

Chenango County Farm Bureau (CCFB) director Fred Baker and hiswife Judith, Promotion & Education Chair Rainy Collins-Vickers, andPresident Bradd Vickers are displaying the award willing program (AMultilevel Approach to the Oil/Gas Rush) at the American FarmBureau Annual Meeting held in San Antonio, Texas.

40 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN

Chase’s Life Focus...

Chase Memorial Nursing Home Co. Inc.1 Terrace Heights, New Berlin, NY

607-847-7000

Roger HalbertAdministrator

One of the greatest attributes of Chase is our Life Focus which surrounds us with all forms of life. What a boost it gives us all!

Coming to your neighborhood soon –The New Chase...

MMOORRRRIISSVVIILLLLEE SSTTAATTEE -- NNOORRWWIICCHH CCAAMMPPUUSS

BY TYLER MURPHYThe Evening Sun

The Norwich Campusof Morrisville StateCollege plans on tak-

ing a monumental step in2009 by offering its firststand alone four-year bach-elor’s program.

Interim Director MarshaCornelius said the two majorpriorities before the school in2009 were adopting a four-year business program andincreasing enrollment.

“Hopefully, the two will gohand in hand,” she said.

More than 500 studentswill be attending the Norwichcampus for the spring semes-ter which started Jan. 20,about on par with the school’slast two years of enrollment.

“We’d like to see it around750 in the next few years,”said Cornelius.

In order to accomplish this,the facility is in the process ofoffering additional coursesand increasing the number ofits stand-alone programs.

Cornelius said the schoolcurrently offers three associ-ate programs specific to theNorwich campus, includingEarly Childhood, HumanServices and Criminal Jus-tice.

“The initiative to bring afour-year program to Nor-wich is a major one,” saidMorrisville Dean of theSchool of Business, Dr.David Rogers.

Rogers said he is currentlyworking with college admin-istrators at both ends todevelop a four-year programin small business manage-ment which will translate into

a bachelor’s in businessadministration (BBA) for itssuccessful participants.

“We want to be able tooffer the course directly onthe Norwich campus, possi-bly through distance learningonline,” he said.

Rogers said that voice soft-ware technology had pro-gressed far and now studentscould potentially downloadthe school’s program and bepresent in a classroom as theinstructor gives the lesson.

“They can watch the lec-ture and even ask questionswithout being in the room, itoffers some distance learningopportunities,” said Rogers.

Roger and Cornelius saidthey hope to offer additionalfour-year degrees at the cam-pus in 2009 or in 2010.

Currently administratorsare working out a plan tobring a business technology(BT) degree to the local col-lege, where information tech-nology is combined withbusiness management.Rogers said that the school

surveyed students at the Nor-wich campus on what fouryear program seemed mostappealing to them, and theBT degree was one of thechosen.

“We have to make thecourses we offer more in tunewith current social and jobtrends,” said Cornelius.

“We have more in thepipeline waiting for approve.It’s a very thorough processto offer a four year degree.The faculty prepares a pro-posal for Albany (SUNY Sys-tem Administration) toreview and approve,” saidRogers.

Cornelius said that nearly90 percent of the studentbody lived in ChenangoCounty and that by offeringadditional local courses mayencourage local growth andattract outside interest.

“I believe in growing yourown. If you can grow theintellect in the area, then theywill tend to stay here,” shesaid.

Cornelius took over the

temporary role of director inJuly 2008 after the departureof the previous dean, EdwardC. “Ted” Nichols. Nicholswas in charge of moving theNorwich campus to its cur-rent location along ConkeyAvenue in 2005. She hopesthe appointment may becomepermanent, but won’t find outuntil New York Gov. DavidPaterson lifts his state widehiring freeze on all state oper-ated schools.

The Norwich campus cur-rently employs about 65 staffand three full-time faculty.

Graduates of the Norwichcampus receive the exactsame entitlement given tograduates at the main Mor-risville campus.

“They are of the exactsame magnitude. The diplo-ma is identical; the diplomajust says Morrisville StateCollege on it. It’s the samefor purposes of transfer or forjob applications, or anythingelse,” said Rogers.

“We don’t like the image ofa community college, butrather a college in the com-munity,” said Cornelius.

Cornelius said there is aidavailable for people whosometimes think gettingfinancial assistance is harderthan it really is.

“In most cases, people inChenango County qualify forat least some aid,” she said.

“Especially in these tougheconomic times, people arelooking to reinvent them-selves by going back toschool, to change careers orto upgrade their education.It’s times like these that showyou how important educationhas become,” she said.

The four-year plan

Morrisville’s Norwich Campus has grown con-siderably since the idea for it conception wasfirst pushed in the 1960’s and now in 2009 thecollege it looking to establish its first four yearbachelor’s program.

Success StoriesChenango Bounty

We all have a sense of the things that are convenientin our lives. Where does our food come from? Simpleanswer: the grocery store. The market. But it isn’t calledthe ‘market’ for nothing, and as the news has told us thispast year, our markets are in trouble. Not our supermar-kets, necessarily, but our international markets, ourindustrial markets, and our economic markets are suffer-ing. Even our local economy trembles day to day.Thankfully, there are options available right here inChenango County to help maintain the economic as wellas the physical health of our community.

In the past year, Chenango Bounty––a program of theChenango Agriculture Development Council in collabo-ration with partners including Cornell CooperativeExtension and the Central New York Resource Conser-vation and Development Project––has presented anexciting option. Designed to bring fresh food producedwithin the community to the community members them-selves––right to their doors, in fact––this programfocuses directly on the idea that while a need for con-venience can often be simply self-serving, it doesn’thave to be. With the the program’s online order form andweekly home delivery service, Chenango Bounty (alongwith its expansion partner, Madison Bounty of MadisonCounty) is working to provide a convenient, responsiblefood-buying option.

By purchasing food grown mostly in Chenango Coun-ty and Madison County but always within New YorkState, who benefits? The local economy. According toStacy Mitchell, a researcher with the Institute for LocalSelf-Reliance, “for every $100 spent in a chain store,[we found that] $14 went back into the local economy.For a locally owned business, it was $45.” ChenangoBounty, in its first year, brought more than $57,800 backto its local participant farms and groups, at a much high-er rate than 45 percent: a full 77 percent. This is due inpart to the prowess of the Chenango Bounty program,which does not use its grant monies to pay for a deliverytruck or the salaries of its management. But it is not onlythe economy that benefits from the purchase of localfoods; the individual benefits as well. Home deliverysaves on the time and gas of the individual spent to getto the supermarket, and the products offer competitiverates for fresh, local foods. Much of the produce andmeat presented, not to mention the plethora of otherfresh products, is Certified Organic or Farmer’s Pledge.

We in Chenango County are lucky. We have theopportunity, with Chenango Bounty, to make a conven-ient choice that also helps our local farms and other foodpurveyors. For more information please visitwww.chenangobounty.com.

PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009 41

WINES & LIQUORS

1959

“Serving Chenango For 50 Years”

50thAnniversary

1959 – 2009“We’ve aged as well as our great wines.”

Frank J. NazzittoFirst Store

American Ave., Norwich, NY

25th AnniversaryA&P Plaza Location

Current StoreEstablished 2000

Chenango Towne Plaza

Rte. 12 South, Norwich

Opening New StoreA&P Plaza

The “Girls”Nazzitto’s Staff 2009

F. John Nazzitto • Frank J. NazzittoFred Mirabito (Mayor) • Grace Nazzitto

Maureen • Cindy • Suzie • Patty • Michele

F. John Nazzitto

Jim Kolet • Pete AndersonF. J. Nazzitto • F. John Nazzitto

1984

2009

1976

IINN TTHHEEIIRR OOWWNN WWOORRDDSS

Weathering the ‘Storm’BY ROBERT J. MACKEY

Superintendent Unadilla Valley CentralSchool District

The year 2009 marksthe 13th year of theexistence of the

Unadilla Valley CentralSchool District (which wascreated by the consolida-tion of the South New BerlinCSD and the New BerlinCSD). The graduating classof 2009 will be the firstclass to graduate thatreceived their K-12 educa-tion in our district.

The citizens of these com-munities need to celebratethis milestone in the journeyof our young school district.Celebrate the coming togeth-er of two communities, twoidentities, and hundreds ofchildren and adolescents.Taking time to reflect onwhat has been accomplishedin thirteen years and lookingforward to the opportunitiesthat face us as we continue todevelop as a school commu-nity in the Unadilla ValleyCentral School District.

Looking at the past 13years, we have weathered thelong and arduous processesof changing the Hawks andthe Indians to the Storm. TheBoard of Education andadministration held the lineon tax increases in the firstfive years of the merger,keeping a 0% levy in place asthe new district started out. Astate of the art school build-ing was erected to help createa positive Pre-K through 12learning environment for ourstudents. The entire UV

school and community cametogether in the winter of2002-2003 to move the twoschools into the new build-ing. The building has beenopen to the community dayand night, weekday andweekend, and during theschool year, as well as sum-mer, in an effort to success-fully create a communityschool. The merger processhelped foster a galvanizedeffort to provide the childrenof the Unadilla Valley SchoolDistrict with high qualityeducational and diversifiedextracurricular opportunities.Committed teachers andadministrators workingtogether helped to createclubs, sports, and coursesbeyond the ones required soour students would be pre-pared for whatever post sec-ondary path they choose.

While our students havedone well, barriers to studentsuccess emerged. Barrierslike student reading levelswere not where the teacherswanted them, the high schoolwas identified by New YorkState as a school in need ofimprovement (SINI) andplaced on a Contract forExcellence, state test resultsin Math and ELA at the mid-dle school level reflect thestatewide trend of decliningstudent success, and ourgraduation/high school com-pletion rate has not hit 100%yet. Our teachers, administra-tors, and Board of Educationmembers started a journeynearly three years ago to cre-ate a community of learningat U.V. to improve in theseareas and more. The ReadingFirst grant was secured and

implemented in 2006-2007 ingrades K-3. Regular evalua-tions of student learning inthe areas of reading, bestpractices in teaching and lev-eled interventions based onstudent need, combined withthe training and modeling ofa Reading Coach for theteachers, have ingrainedReading First in our primaryschool. Student reading lev-els are dramaticallyimproved, a tribute to thevery focused work of collab-orative teams of teacherslearning together and sup-porting each other and theleadership of their ReadingCoach and Principal.

Last year we focused ourenergy on the creation of adistrict mission statement,vision statement, and set ofbelief statements in order toguide our continued focus onimproving student learning.

OUR MISSIONThe mission of the Unadil-

la Valley Central School Dis-trict is to provide studentswith a quality education of

high academic standardswhile fostering creativity,diversity, and critical think-ing in a safe and nurturingenvironment.

OUR VISIONUniting school and com-

munityValuing academic excel-

lenceSafe and nurturing environ-

mentTailoring curriculum to

diverse needsOutstanding character

developmentRespectful, responsible,

productive citizensMotivating life-long learn-

ers

THE UNADILLAVALLEY PLEDGE

As citizens ...We are proud, independent,

smart, and strongWe take responsibility for

our actions and act in aresponsible way.

We are courteous and con-siderate and treat others howwe would want to be treated.

We strive to learn fromeach other and allow others tolearn without being dis-turbed.

We always give our best toour community, our families,our peers, and ourselves.

Along with this, teachersand administrators workeddiligently to answer the fol-lowing questions:

1.What is essential for allstudents to learn at everygrade level (PreK-5) and inevery subject (6-12)?

2. How will we knowthey’ve learned it?

3. How will we respond

when students aren’t learn-ing?; and

4. How will we respondwhen students are learning?

As we answered questionone in collaborative teams, adistrict curriculum began toemerge and was published.The work of a dedicated teamof math teachers and admin-istrators, practicing this job-embedded professionaldevelopment, resulted inimprovements that removedU.V. from the SINI list andthe Contract for Excellenceeffective as of July 2008.

This year teachers areworking longer hours to plancollaboratively creating aProfessional Learning Com-munity. In these collaborativeteams, teachers have refinedand improved their draft cur-riculum, getting closer to aguaranteed curriculum. Theyhave been working on ques-tion two, developing com-mon assessments, administer-ing them, and sharing theresults in order to improvestudent learning. As we goforward, we have started tothoroughly address questions

three and four. We will evalu-ate everything we do to deter-mine how effective our prac-tices and procedures are atimproving student learningfor all students. We willrevise those that have prom-ise, keep those that are effec-tive, and eliminate those thatare ineffective. We may cre-ate new practices and proce-dures and regularly evaluatetheir effectiveness year in andyear out. This job-embeddedprofessional developmentwill result in improved stu-dent learning in all academicareas, because it will improveteacher practices in instruc-tion, assessment and refiningcurriculum. This collabora-tive culture will be essentialin difficult budget years likethis one and the ones we maycontinue to face in the fore-seeable future. Helping theU.V. team of caring, dedicat-ed adults work together torestructure and reinvent ourdistrict to meet losses in stateaid, as well as state and feder-al mandates in the area of stu-dent learning.

Robert Mackey

“The citizens of thesecommunities need tocelebrate this milestonein the journey of ouryoung school district.”

42 PROGRESS CHENANGO 2009 PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN

Stan BrydenSales Professional

Gary TackaburySales Manager

Bill OglesbySales Professional

Kay CourtemancheF&I Specialist

Scott StrongF&I Specialist

Fred HilsingerSales Professional

Graydon FurmanSales Professional

Lynn WightmanSales Professional

Robert ParkerParts & Service Director

Mark ColemanCo-Service Director

Brian StiegerwaldCo. Service Manager

Forest FletcherNight Service Manager

Mike BarryParts Manager

Joshua ZbydiewskiRhino Manager

Michael ColbertParts Advisor

Joseph HoffmanService Tech

Randy MattsSr. Do-It-All Tech

Jeremy O’DellService Tech

Randy SmithService Tech

Joseph SykesService Tech

Dennis ValentineLead Service Tech

Edward ZimmermanService Tech

Jackie GuinnOffice Manager

Bill TyrrellOwner

Janice TyrrellOwner

BuddyThe Dog

“Aunt” Judy WhartonCustomer For Life Director

Marcy HagenbuchController

Will TyrrellGeneral Manager

Bob HagenbuchSales Manager

Smith FordLLC WAREHOUSE

the

SMITH FORD, L.L.C. • 607-334-3273 THE GIANTS WAREHOUSE • 607-336-3943

Chenango County & Our Surrounding Neighbors For Making 2008 A Huge Success!!Here Are A Few Of Our 2008Accomplishments...– Vehicles Sold.............................1,160– Hours Open..............................3,541– Total Vehicles Serviced............12,296– Quarts Of Oil Sold....................38,079– NYS Sales Tax Collected..........$1,112,024.60

We Appreciate Being Your Dealership Choice,And Look Forward To Seeing You In 2009!

NYSIN

SPECTIO

NFO

R LIFE - LUBE FOR LIFE - ROTA

TION

FO

RLIFE

- WASH FOR LIFE -Program

CUSTOMERFOR

Henry AmbrizReCon Tech

Dan HortonBody Shop Tech

Sue MyersReCon Tech

Harold HumphreyService Tech

Keith PierceBody Shop Manager

ShelbyThe Other Dog