Category: Local News

March 26, 2025

Senator O’Mara and Assemblymen Phil Palmesano are reminding area residents, that there’s a NYSEG meeting with the public, coming up in Big Flats tomorrow. At this meeting, you’ll be able to talk with representatives from New York State Electric and Gas, about your NYSEG utility bills.

This will be at the Big Flats American Legion from 4pm to 7pm. Assemblyman Palmesano and Senator O’Mara requested that NYSEG hold meetings like this. If you cannot make the meeting, you can call this number: 888-315-1755, and voice your concerns.

March 25, 2025

The City of Hornell Common Council met on Monday, March 24, in a special meeting following public hearings to review budgets for the upcoming 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Council unanimously approved the proposed budgets for both the General and Water Funds, with no increases to the current tax rate. This keeps the City of Hornell one of the most affordable communities in the State of New York.

During an extensive review of the budgets, Mayor John Buckley reiterated the financial challenges facing municipalities, including rising costs for materials, supplies, and utilities. “We continue to see increases across the board, from fuel to building materials, along with higher energy costs and rising chemical expenses for our Water Treatment Plant and Water Pollution Control Plant,” stated Mayor Buckley. “In addition, we are now seeing greater impacts from increased costs in personal services, retirement, and insurance.”

Acknowledging the collaborative efforts that led to responsible financial planning, Mayor Buckley commended the Department Heads and the City Chamberlain. “I appreciate the hard work of our department heads, employees, and our City Chamberlain in ensuring that we continue to provide essential services efficiently and affordably.”

City Chamberlain Michele Smith highlighted the importance of balancing fiscal responsibility with meeting community needs. “We have worked to ensure the budget remains stable while continuing to invest in our City,” she stated.

The Council also approved increasing the annual City garbage collection fee from $95 to $105 due to rising costs associated with garbage services through Lippincott’s Rubbish, as well as increased tipping fees at the landfill. Even with this adjustment, Hornell’s garbage collection fee remains significantly lower than comparable municipalities. Many surrounding municipalities do not assist with providing garbage services, and instead require residents to contract with private haulers. Others, such as the City of Corning and the City of Olean, use pay-per-bag, sticker or tote systems. Corning requires residents to purchase blue bags for garbage pickup, with a current cost of $2.25 per 30-gallon bag. Olean offers a sticker or tote system, where residents pay $3.28 per 30-gallon bag or $27.17 monthly for a 96-gallon tote. The City of Elmira’s service is most similar to Hornell’s, allowing six 30-pound bags per pickup, but at a significantly higher annual fee of $365 per unit.

“With the increase to $105 per year, this averages out to just $2.02 per week for the pickup of five 30-gallon bags and occasional large items,” stated Mayor Buckley. “Garbage collection is an essential service that directly impacts the cleanliness of our community and quality of life for our residents. We are fortunate to have an affordable, reliable system, and Lippincott’s Rubbish continues to provide outstanding service.”

Finance Committee Chairman Dan Warriner emphasized the importance of maintaining financial responsibility while ensuring critical services remain strong. “The City has worked hard to keep costs as low as possible while continuing to provide high-quality services,” said Warriner. “Even with rising expenses, Hornell remains one of the most affordable communities in the region, and this budget reflects our commitment to responsible financial management.”

March 25, 2025

FROM HP SMITH AND SON FUNERAL HOME, CANISTEO:

Spencer P. Annabel, M.D, passed away at his home in Canisteo, NY on March 22nd, 2025 following a long battle with lung cancer.

Born April 12th, 1946, in Hornell, NY to Albert and June (Spencer) Annabel, Spencer grew up working on the family farm. He graduated from Canisteo Central School in 1965 and earned his undergraduate degree from Alfred University in 1969. While attending Medical School at the University of Rochester, he met and married the love of his life, Carol (Stoddard) Annabel before earning his medical degree in 1973.

After completing his Internal Medicine residency at Rochester General Hospital, Spence realized his dream of returning to the Hornell, NY area to serve the community in which he was raised. He did so through his own private medical practice and treating patients at the local hospitals. He created the ultrasound and echocardiography department at Saint James Mercy Hospital and loved teaching and mentoring. Spence was a 21 year veteran of the Saint James Mercy Hospital Board and one of his proudest accomplishments was being a part of the New Vision Task Force in 2014 that was able to secure grant money and affiliation with the University to Rochester to save the hospital from closure and maintain its critical resources for the local communities. He retired from private practice in 2015 and from his work at the hospital at the end of 2020.

In addition to his professional life, Spence was a dedicated father to his three children, Matthew, Seth & Megan (Thomas) Angelo and adored his three grandchildren Maya & Caleb Annabel and Clara Angelo. It meant a great deal to him to raise his children on the family farm he himself grew up on and remain in his childhood home to the end of his life. He is also survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Carol, one sister, Shivani Small, daughter in-law Susan Baruch-Annabel & several nieces and nephews.

A driven and adventurous personality, Spence enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes. His physical hobbies included horse riding, skiing, cycling and mountaineering. Many Annabel horses were loved and well cared for into their senior years. His cross-country ski trails on his own property saw great use during the winter and he enjoyed the accomplishment of summiting high peaks in the Adirondacks and Colorado. As a cyclist, he was a recognizable figure riding through the community in his favorite red bike clothes in all kinds of weather and continued riding on Oxygen therapy during the final years of his life.

He had an immense interest in collecting, painting and building models and miniatures which remained a relaxing pastime for him until his passing. He was an Aviator for many years and a self-described car guy who loved to share his flying and driving adventure stories. His love of history eventually found an outlet through civil war reenacting. He was able to honor the accomplishments of his civil war counterparts by teaching and demonstrating civil war medicine during countless reenactments, and, in the later years, he formed his own civil war artillery battery.

A great blessing of his life were the many friends he accumulated over the years, through schooling, his community, his professional life and through the reenacting hobby. As the end approached, he was never lonely or wanting for visitors. He and his family are forever grateful for the blessings of these relationships.

The family will receive friends from 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm, Thursday, March 27th at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home in Canisteo, and a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, March 28th at 10:00 am, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 27 Erie Avenue in Hornell. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Canisteo.

Memorial Contributions in Dr. Annabel’s name may be made to either Care First, 3805 Meads Creek Rd, Painted Post, NY 14870, the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Rd. Hornell, NY 14843 or to the St. James hospital Foundation, 7329 Seneca Road North, Hornell, NY 14843.
Visitation
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Thursday, March 27, 2025
H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home – Canisteo
29 East Main Street
Canisteo, New York, United States
(607) 698-4552
Need Directions?
View Map | Text Directions | Email Directions
Visitation
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday, March 27, 2025
H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home – Canisteo
29 East Main Street
Canisteo, New York, United States
(607) 698-4552
Need Directions?
View Map | Text Directions | Email Directions
Mass Of Christian Burial
10:00 am
Friday, March 28, 2025
St. Ann’s Catholic Church
27 Erie Ave.
Hornell, New York, United States
Need Directions?
View Map | Text Directions | Email Directions
Burial
Hillside Cemetery
Greenwood St.
Canisteo, New York, United States

March 24, 2025

North Hornell Village Hall has been getting complaints recently about the strong sewer odor there on the streets of North Hornell. The complaints are being passed on to Hornell City officials, as the water system in North Hornell, comes from the City of Hornell. North Hornell village officials are said to be keeping documentation about the complaints. One North Hornell resident we spoke with, said the odor is all over the village. “It is even smelled sometimes inside people’s homes,” one North Hornell woman stated. “If you’re anywhere near a manhole, you’ll have to have your hand over your face.”

We checked in with Hornell Mayor John Buckley, who gave us the following statement: “There is no question that the odors are emanating from the Northern portion of the sewer line, in the Town of Hornellsville, coming through the Village of North Hornell. The odors are not emanating from the Hornell sewer plant, because the sewer plant is on the southern end of the line and receives, it does not have output. So we are tracking down the odors and we are testing samples, we sent samples out to labs so we are awaiting the results of those. We are working with Labella and Associates and our team here with Chief Operator Rich Dunning to try to get to the bottom of this and remediate it and improve the quality of life for residents throughout the City of Hornell and the Village of North Hornell.”

The Hornell mayor also noted that while most of the odor is in North Hornell, it also impacts other areas as well. “It does come into the City, Buckley explained. “However, there are pockets in Hornellsville. I did a tour of the line last week and I noticed that up in some of the area of Seneca Road North area, it had a really strong odor as well, so it’s not just the village, it’s the entire portion up there,” Buckley stated.

March 23, 2025

The Hornell girls varsity basketball season was an amazing one, but it came to an end Saturday evening at Hudson Community College. The Lady Red Raiders lost to Cold Springs Harbor, 54-50.

Congratulations to the Hornell girls and to coach Jim Dagon, it was an amazing season.

March 22, 2025

Canisteo Police Sgt James Giglio says that a driver is in custody after a hit and run. That happened this afternoon just after 3:00pm, in the area of Greenwood Street and 10th Street.

Sgt. Giglio says a 64 woman suffered a head injury and is in serious condition now, at st James Hospital.
The investigation continues and charges against the driver are pending.

The driver is in custody.

Police Sgt. James Giglio is thanking the New York State Police for their assistance in this case, and is thanking the Canisteo Fire And Ambulance crew for their speedy response.

March 23, 2025

Coming up on Monday at the Steuben County Legislative meeting, they’ll be voting on whether to take $250,000 from the state’s contingency fund to spend it on upgrades to the Hammondsport Ambulance facility. The plans are for Steuben County Supplemental Emergency Medical crews to take over for the Hammondsport Ambulance team, as the Hammondsport Ambulance team is dissolving. County Manager Jack Wheeler says, the $250,000 will be used to buy EMT and computer equipment. Wheeler also says, the county will own the Hammondsport Ambulance, when the time comes for the county crews to run that facility.

March 23, 2025

Sheriff Jim Allard reports that a Corning teenage girl, allegedly injured a police officer in Bath in February. The sheriff says the teen allegedly scraped a Bath Village Police Officer with her fingernails, causing the officer to bleed.

The Corning teen was remanded to the county jail on charges of 4th degree criminal mischief and 2nd degree assault.

Also, the teen has already posted bail, which was $1,000.

March 23, 2025

Steuben County Emergency Services Director Tim Marshall says that late last week, the National Weather Service put out a Special Weather Service on the fire danger. Marshall also says, although Steuben County has had some rain, it really has not been much and it’s still largely dry. He also says, the statewide burn ban is on until May 14, another very good reason to avoid having outdoor burns.

March 23, 2025

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is reintroducing a bill in the House of Representatives, to make permanent, the accelerated depreciation of a motorsports entertainment complex. This will make permanent, the tax incentives, in the federal tax code, to help racetracks, from small ones to Nascar, out financially. The tax incentives are set to end at the end of this year.

FROM CONGRESSWOMAN TENNEY: “The Oswego Speedway and Watkins Glen are just a few of many racetracks located in Upstate New York that have provided our region with family fun, quality jobs, and economic opportunity. The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act will sustain the long-term financial health and competitiveness of motorsports facilities by making the seven-year cost recovery period permanent, providing the industry the reassurance it needs to thrive and grow. Motorsports venues require continual investments to maintain infrastructure, incorporate the newest safety upgrades, and improve the fan experience. A shorter depreciation schedule provides the financial flexibility necessary to make these investments. Doing so will ensure this American pastime continues to generate jobs and boost our economy.”

March 23, 20256
By Congressman Nick Langworthy

After three full weeks of legislative work in Washington, D.C., it was great to be back home for a district work period this week.

Spending time with constituents across New York’s 23rd Congressional District is the most fulfilling part of my role. Our region is facing real challenges, and I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with so many of the people and organizations working on the front lines—those providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities, our school superintendents, business leaders, and healthcare professionals caring for our most vulnerable neighbors. These conversations are what ground my work in Washington and help me focus on the priorities that matter most to you.

But these meetings aren’t just about gathering input—they also give me the chance to separate fact from fiction. In a time when misinformation is running rampant—often fueled by those trying to stir fear and division—it’s critical to have honest conversations and provide clarity about the work we’re doing.

A topic that continues to come up again and again is the economy. On Friday, I visited Sealing Devices in Lancaster, a family-owned manufacturing business that’s been serving Western New York for over 60 years. I spoke with workers about our plan to eliminate taxes on overtime pay and the urgent need to renew the 2017 Trump tax cuts before they expire at the end of this year.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 delivered real results—leading to job growth, wage increases, and expanded economic opportunity. Now, House Republicans and President Trump are working to build on that success with new proposals to eliminate taxes on overtime, tips, and Social Security income. These reforms would give working Americans more take-home pay, ease labor shortages, and help small businesses stay competitive.

Ending taxes on overtime is just common sense. It rewards extra effort, especially in industries like healthcare, retail, and manufacturing where longer hours are often critical. More money in workers’ pockets means stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger economy.

If we want to truly unleash the American economy and revive our entrepreneurial spirit, we need a tax code that lifts up both workers and job creators. Eliminating taxes on overtime is a key step toward that goal—and I’m committed to making it happen.

March 22, 2025

Pay attention to the financial industry – an industry on which the state’s fiscal and economic well-being is make or break. This industry moving out of New York State, including the most recent Goldman Sachs announcement of its continued relocation of employees and operations to Texas, is alarming.
Pay attention to the fact that over the past several years, New York State has been marked as a national leader in population losses.
Pay attention to the rankings, including one of the latest from WalletHub, which have repeatedly designated New York among the highest taxed states in America, and often the highest taxed state.
Pay attention when studies from the Tax Foundation and other fiscal watchdogs highlight New York’s state and local debt per capita as among the highest of any state in the nation.

It goes on and on. These and other warning signs keep flashing and Albany Democrats just keep ignoring all of it.

Consequently, in response to what we see as yet another fiscally irresponsible state budget being negotiated right now by Governor Hochul and the Legislature’s all-Democrat majorities — negotiations that are clearly headed towards the continuation of uncontrolled state spending — Senate Republicans last week renewed our commitment to actions to create a more affordable New York.

Albany Democrats readily acknowledge the affordability crisis causing the exodus of citizens to more affordable states. They do plenty of talking about it. Yet the Democrats can’t give up increasing handouts. They have no interest in stopping out-of-control spending, eliminating taxes, lowering costs, cutting burdensome regulations and mandates, or restoring public safety.

In current budget negotiations, Senate Democrats are calling for spending far beyond the approximately $252 billion fiscal plan proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul for 2025-2026, which by itself was already nearly $9 billion higher than New York’s current spending. According to a Senate Republican Finance Committee analysis, Senate Democrats have put forth a $259 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year — at least $7 billion higher than Hochul’s proposed budget and more than $15 billion higher than current state spending. It would mark the highest-ever state budget. Tellingly, Senate Democrats project that their proposed spending plan, if enacted, would lead to a string of state budget deficits over the next three fiscal years totaling $6.5 billion in 2027, $9.8 billion in 2028, and $11 billion in 2029.

In their one-house budget, Assembly Democrats want to spend even more.

From the outset, the Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences have warned that Governor Hochul’s out-of-control state spending plan would only skyrocket once the Legislature’s Democrat majorities, the biggest spenders in state history, got their hands on it. That’s exactly where we’re headed.

New York could go in a different direction. Senate Republicans last week highlighted several pieces of legislation that could be cornerstones of a new state budget, including legislation I sponsor to provide a significant tax cut to support small businesses and farmers. Other legislation our conference has put forth would establish a First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act; direct the state to determine the true cost of the mandates being imposed under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, better known as the CLCPA, on New York’s ratepayers and then establish a credit for ratepayers and businesses to cover those costs; and enact the “Affordable New York Act,” which is designed to lower the tax burden on individual workers in New York.

There are plenty of alternative actions that could help define a new budget and a new direction for New York State. Regrettably, they’re the types of actions that don’t currently have a place in this state’s one-party, all-Democrat government.

Is it affordable and is it sustainable for the citizens and taxpayers of New York State to continue down this road of spending?

No, it’s not. It remains irresponsible, unaffordable, and unsustainable.

We need to liberate New York by restoring the right priorities, rebuilding stronger and safer communities, and working towards a more responsible and sustainable future for middle-class communities, families, workers, businesses, industries, ratepayers, and taxpayers.