WCDO Radio News

The Village of Sidney is reminding Main Street area property owners & residents to NOT use salt or salt-like products on the newly poured concrete this winter. Sand is available by request to building & businesses owners or caretakers to throw sand on any snow this winter, as the rock salt could be harmful to the new concrete. More information is available at 561-2329 Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM & 2:30 PM.

State Senator Fred Akshar will be visiting classrooms in 3 more schools Today as part of his new district-wide "Akshar All-Star" student recognition program. Akshar will visit the Tioga Central High School in Barton, The Vestal Middle School Library & at 2:00pm, the Oxford High School

The Bassett Mobile Screening Coach is coming to Sidney today. The screenings will be offered from 9a-2:30p at the Great American in Sidney and on Tuesday, December 5th from 9a-3p at the Bassett Healthcare Clinic in Walton. More information is available at 1-888-345-0225.

The Afton Central School District Board of Education has invited 2 candidates to interview for the Superintendent position. A forum for each candidate will be held next week, with the forum with Daniel Erickson; who is the middle school principal in Johnson City, will be November 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium. Timothy McNamara is the principal in the Downsville Central School District; his public forum will be on November 30th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Afton Central School auditorium.

CDO Workforce and BEAM are offering a free Interviewing Workshop Today, at 11:00 am at the CDO Workforce Center, at the Sidney Civic Center. Participants can learn about the interview process; clarifying Interview questions; knowing your resume; selling yourself; anticipate questions and answering difficult questions. Reservations are requested at 832-5776, walk-ins are also welcome to attend.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce announced that the annual Jolly Holly Days parade would be held on Friday December 1st in Downtown Sidney. Interested participants are asked to contact the Sidney Chamber Office at 561-2642.

A large cast of actors from all over the Southern Tier will perform in the Afton Community Theater's production of Shrek The Musical for 3 performances starting tonight at the Afton Central School. Director Brandy Engle comments:

(Brandy Engel)

The shows will be tonight at 7:00 PM, Saturday Night at 7:00 PM, & Sunday Afternoon at 2:00 PM.

A Sidney 5K Walk or Run will be held this Sunday at 1:30 PM, to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Sidney Heath Education Teacher Jonathan Yurka explains:

(Jonathan Yurka 10-20-17)

The event will be held between the Sidney High School & Middle school buildings Sunday afternoon with a variety of food & entertainment also scheduled.

A fundraiser is being held Sunday in Sidney, for a recently departed Masonville resident who lost a battle with cancer. The Benefit for Kenny Cutting will be held at the American Legion beginning at 1:00 PM, to assist the family with bills associated with the illness. There will be a $5.00 charge at the door, plus donations will also be accepted.

A Sidney 5K Walk or Run will be held this Sunday, with a variety of events scheduled to go along with the run, to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Sidney Heath Education Teacher Jonathan Yurka explains:

(Jonathan Yurka 10-17-17)

More information about the race is available at localraces.com, and then search for "Warriors” the event will be held between the Sidney High School & Middle school buildings Sunday afternoon.

State Senator Fred Akshar & Assembly Members Donna Lupardo and Cliff Crouch will hold a public Town Hall Meeting to discuss the repurposing of the Broome Developmental Center to provide substance abuse treatment to individuals struggling with addiction. Officials from the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Syracuse Behavioral Health, Broome County Department of Social Services and the Broome County Health Department will answer questions and address concerns related to the repurposing project. The Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Chenango Valley High School at 221 Chenango Bridge Rd.

A Motorcyclist was airlifted to Wilson hospital after colliding with a pick up truck on State Route 12 in the town of Norwich this morning at 11:15. Lifenet of Sidney was called in to transport the operator of the motorcycle, whose name has not been released. The investigation is ongoing.

The Unatego School District Board of Education will hold their next regular meeting at the Middle School/ High School today in Room 93. The session will begin at 6:30 PM, with the open portion beginning at 7:00 PM.

Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak has announced a series of Meetings to get the public & the businesses owners up to date on the progress of the Main Street Revitalization Project:

(Andy Matviak 10-2-17)

Matviak said that the delays are making the board considering stopping the project for the winter after the one side is completed, and then begin the other side of Main Street next spring.

Delaware County Public Health will hold a Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic For dogs, cats and ferrets today. The clinic will run from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Sidney Fire Hall on River Street, more information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com.

The next meeting of the Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention is being held today, at 6:00 PM at the Sidney Middle School Library.

Governor Cuomo was in Johnson City this morning, to deliver state funds to assist the Regional Econimic Development's wishes to assist Binghamton area businesses add jobs:

(Cuomo 8-2-17)

The State has already invested more than $3.1 billion in the region since 2012, recent REDC efforts in Binghamton have led to the building of the new Pharmacy School in Johnson City & the expansion of the Decker School of Nursing into a bigger facility.

Area Law Enforcement Agencies will team up with Area Dunkin Donuts locations to raise money for the "Cops On Top" fundraiser. Sidney Police Chief Jan Gorshack told WCDO News that the SIdney Police Deaprtment will be involved Friday:

(Jan Gorshack 8-2-17)

Police officers will also assist in the fundraising efforts in Bainbridge, Norwich, Vestal, Binghamton, Johnson City & Whitney Point this coming Friday morning.

New York State has announced a new round of funding for a program aimed at keeping students from dropping out of school. The state Education Department on Monday said 44 colleges and universities would receive a total of $17 million as part of the Liberty Partnerships Program. Under the program, colleges partner with struggling schools and community-based organizations to help middle and high school students who are at risk of dropping out complete school and go on to college. Commissioner MaryEllen Elia says the program gives students access to skills assessment, tutoring, counseling and mentoring. The program was started in 1988.

The Sidney Center Improvement Group will be holding their Luck Day Auction Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Group Spokesman Mike Sellitti explains:

(Mike Sellitti 7-26-17)

The event will be held at the Sidney Center Fire Department Sunday. More information is available at scigny.org or the Sidney Center Improvement group facebook page.

The next Meeting of the Coalition On Substance Abuse Prevention will be today at 6:00 PM at the Sidney Middle School Library. The Coaltion is looking for board members, potential officers and committee chair persons to join in the effort, interested residents are invited to attend tonight's meeting.

An American Red Cross Blood drive will be held today in Sidney. The drive will be held from 2:30 to 6:30 PM at Tri-Town Regional Hospital, Appointments can be made with the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS.

Lawmakers were called back to Albany today for an Extraordinary session to deal with some left over legislation that was not dealt with before the end of the 2017 session last Wednesday. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch said that some of the bills really should be dealt with by the local municipalities, and not the state legislature:

(Cliff Crouch 6-28-17)

In the last weeks of the legislative session, state lawmakers had to decide on what Crouch called "Home Rule" issues, like allowing for counties to continue to collect sales tax, in addition to the issue of New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio overseeing the City schools.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies & local EMT’s responded to a 1 car roll-over accident with entrapment, at approximately 2:00 PM Tuesday on State Highway 28 in the Town of Middletown. 78 year old Doris Hubar of Margaretville was extricated from the overturned vehicle & was transported to Margaretville Memorial Hospital and was transferred to Albany Medical Center for further treatment. Hubar may have experienced a medical emergency while driving, causing her to lose control & flip her vehicle after striking a tree. No tickets have been issued, the investigation is continuing.

The Tri-Town Coalition On Substance Abuse Prevention meeting will be this evening at 6:00 pm in the Sidney Middle School Cafeteria-Gym. The agenda for the meeting will be action planning for the upcoming 2017/2018 coalition year. This meeting will be led by the Prevention Resource Center and the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.

The Village of Sidney announced today that Keith Clark Park will be closed until further notice, as a safety precaution. The Susquehanna River is expected to crest Friday, Those who live near the River, or any other waterways in the region can check river levels & predictions at wcdoonline.com, and click on the river levels icon.

The Sidney Chamber of Commerce has selected their annual Business of Year and Citizens of years award winners at this week’s meeting, Chamber President Stephanie Taylor explains:

(Steph Taylor 4-6-17)

Paul Eaton and Carl Griffiths & the Sidney Elks Club will receive their honors at the Chamber's annual Dinner in June.

Governor Cuomo announced that there were only a few more items to negotiate for the state Budget plan, at a press conference last night:

(Cuomo 4-6-17)

Cuomo said that agreements were made on the Millionaire’s Tax, on the middle-class tax cut, on the Clean Water program, on ride sharing, on college affordability, workers comp, property tax reform, a prescription drug program & an opioid program.

The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting on Thursday, April 6, 2017 in the District Conference Room at 6:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

The village of Sidney will be putting bids out in the next couple of weeks for the Main Street Project, with an eye on getting the projects under by the end of may or early June, which led to SFCU Officials deciding to cancel this year’s home town day parade. Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak explains:

(Andy Matviak 4-4-17)

SFCU officials announced that they fully plan on running the next Hometown Day Parade in June of 2018.

Opioid Overdose training will be held the next 2 nights at the Bainbridge Guilford high school. The training session will begin at 6:00 PM tonight & Wednesday night, all participants will be taught how to administer Naloxone & will receive a free rescue kit. More information is available at 967-6321.

Governor Cuomo announced the passage of a budget extender in order to continue all state operations and the $16.4 billion New York construction and economic development plan for the next complete fiscal year. Local Assemblyman Cliff Crouch said that he voted against the extender:

(Crouch 4-4-17)

Governor Cuomo said that agreements must still be made on free college tuition for the middle class, funding public schools, middle class tax cuts, & the controversial "Raise the Age" proposal, which calls for raising the age of criminal responsibility for 16 & 17 year olds.

A free entrepreneur workshop, "Customer Discovery Tactics," will be held today from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Oxford Academy Primary School. The presentation will be led by Southern Tier Startup Alliance

Governor Cuomo discussed his plans to strengthen the Upstate economy, with income tax cuts for middle class families, free tuition at SUNY & CUNY Schools for middle class families, and the continuing of the Regional Economic Development Councils.

(Cuomo 1-23-17)

Lawmakers will begin hearing later this week on various aspects of the Governor's 152 Billion Dollar Executive Budget Proposal.

The Unatego School District Board of Education will be deciding next month on the recommendations from a Facilities study on the district's buildings. Unatego Superintendent Dave Richards explains:

(Dave Richards 1-23-17)

Richards said that the 2 Elementary school buildings are each about 90 years old & would require millions of dollars in renovations, however the need for the extra space is negated by the fact that the district population has decreased by 28% over the last 10 years.

THE UNADILLA CHAMBER of Commerce IS HOSTING THE 4 CHAMBER MIXER at Green's Long River Inn, Unadilla today. The Meeting will begin at 6:30 pm for members of the Unadilla, Sidney, and Bainbridge & Afton Chambers of Commerce.

State Senator Jim Seward addressed the Sidney Rotary club this afternoon, & discussed the upcoming legislative session. Seward told WCDO News that he would like to see movement quickly on the Constitution Pipeline in order for planned expansion for area businesses to go forward:

(Senator Seward 1-13-17)

The 2017 Legislative session will begin dealing with Governor Cuomo's aggressive agenda shortly.

The Sidney Central School Alumni Association invites the public to an Open House & ribbon Cutting for the New Alumni Room, In Room 102 Of The Sidney Middle School. Alumni Association spokesman Greg Davie explains:

(Greg Davie 1-13-17)

More information about the association is available at sidneyalumni.org.

State Senator Jim Seward will be in Sidney for the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club. Senator Seward will discuss his priorities for the year ahead, as the Rotary Club’s featured speaker today. Sidney Rotary meets at 12:00 Noon at St Luke’s Lutheran Church; 139 West Main Street;