APALACHIN • OWEGO • NICHOLS TIOGA CENTER • NEWARK VALLEY
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www.CommunityPress.us
FEBRUARY 2026
Volume 41
Lions Mobile Food Pantry
Foodbank Of the Southern Tier APALACHIN LIONS WALK-UP MOBILE FOOD PANTRY. Fourth Wednesday of every month February 2026 Wednesday 25th 10-11 AM St. Margaret Mary’s Church 1110 Pennsylvania Ave. Apalachin, NY Pre-registration required
REGISTRATION Tuesday – February 24th At 8:30 AM until full (current limit of 120 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!
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce Hosts First Ever Federal Reserve Economic Presentation The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce a landmark regional event, Economic Strategy 2026: A Federal Reserve Outlook, marking the first time the Federal Reserve has delivered an economic presentation in Tioga County. The event will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Tioga Downs. The program is presented by SUNY Broome and hosted by the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce and Tioga State Bank. The keynote presentation will be delivered by Kartik Athreya, Director of Research and Head of Research & Statistics at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Athreya will provide insights into national and regional economic conditions, emerging trends, and what lies ahead as communities plan for 2026 and beyond. The event will be moderated by Giovanni Scaringi, Professor at SUNY Broome and a long-time regional leader with deep involvement across both Tioga and Broome Counties.
Quote – Giovanni Scaringi, PhD: “This is a rare opportunity for our region to hear directly from the Federal Reserve on the economic forces shaping our communities. Understanding these trends is critical for informed decision-making at the local, regional, and national levels, and I’m excited to help guide this conversation here in Tioga County.” Sabrina Henriques, PhD, CEO and President of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the significance of the event for the region. Quote – Sabrina Henriques, PhD: “Hosting the Federal Reserve in Tioga County for the first time is a major milestone for our business and civic community. This event reflects our commitment to bringing highlevel economic insight directly to local leaders, employers, and decision-makers as we plan strategically for the future. It’s been a wild ride of uncertainly, in 2025. In my position with the Chamber, I am the “boots on the ground”, so I hear from the owners of the largest to smallest businesses. I am really awaiting this event, I plan to be in the audience, listening to every word.”
Number 2
Tioga County DMV Offices to Close for Statewide Upgrade The Tioga County Department of Motor Vehicles, along with all DMV offices in New York state, will undergo a large-scale system upgrade that will require the Owego DMV office to be closed for a short this monty. The New York State DMV is implementing the initial phase of a multi-year project to replace and modernize its aging technology systems. To bring the first part of the new system online, the state is ceasing all DMV operations, including online transactions and their phone system at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026. Due to this upgrade, the Owego DMV, located at 56 Main Street, Owego, NY, will be closed on the following days: Temporary Closures: Friday, February 13: Closed Monday, February 16: Closed in observance of Presidents Day Tuesday, February 17: Closed Wednesday, February 18: Closed The Owego DMV Office will reopen at 9:00 am on February 19 . Any changes to that will be posted on the county website under the
County Clerk and DMV pages. During this time, the state DMV will migrate about 30 million records to the new system and complete the transition to bring the first phase of the upgrade online. Again, no DMV transactions will be able to be completed during this period, including through the state DMV website, and they will also not be answering their phones. ABOUT THE DMV SYSTEM UPGRADE New York State DMV has contracted with software company FAST Enterprises, LLC, which has implemented similar systems in more than 20 other states, to help NYS DMV modernize its technology platforms and service delivery in two major stages over the next two years. The new technology will replace and consolidate a significant portion of DMV’s legacy technology, some of which are over 50 years old. The goal of this initiative is to make the DMV more secure, stable, and agile and to provide DMV customers with more efficient, secure, and convenient services.
Apalachin Lions Club Scholarships 2026 The Apalachin Lions Club 37th Annual Scholarship program will award $3000 in scholarships to deserving students from the class of 2026 who live in the 13732, and 13760, 18830 zip codes. This covers Apalachin, Campville east to the Broome County line, and Little Meadows, PA. The scholarships are awarded to students who have made outstanding contributions in service to their community and school. Distribution of scholarships will be as follows: One $1000 scholarship will be awarded to students who attend Owego Free Academy and Vestal High School .And one $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a student
who attends either of the following schools: Broome Tioga BOCES, Montrose Junior-Senior High, Seton Catholic Central High School, Ross Corners Christian Academy, Northeast Bradford Hight School and Home Schooling (LEAH). The distribution of scholarships is based on the relative numbers of students from Apalachin, Campville and Little Meadows attending each of the schools. Information and applications may be obtained at the schools Guidance Office, or Vestal LEAH. Please return the complete application to the Guidance office or Vestal LEAH on or before: March 27, 2026