A presentation of lectures focusing on this year’s ‘March into History’ series is being offered at the Chemung Valley Historical Museum in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition “At Home and at War: Chemung County in World War II”.

The 7 PM lectures will be held at the Museum located on E. Water Street in Elmira and are free and are open to the public. These lectures are appropriate for adults and youths alike.

“Women’s Land Army: Agricultural Soldiers of World War II’ is scheduled for March 13. Molly Jessup of Syracuse University will discuss how women helped agriculture thrive during the war through the Women’s Land Army.

“Constructing Rosie the Riveter: World War II, Women and Propaganda” will be held on March20. Using period images, Vivian Bruce Conger, assistant professor of history at Ithaca College, will analyze the U.S. government’s campaign to entice women into the work…

Burin announces restructuring of City Hall operations, new deputy
02/28/2008

City Manager John Burin announced a series of organizational changes that will continue to improve and streamline City Hall operations, including naming a new deputy city manager who is a member of a new generation of city government leaders.

The changes come as long-time Director of Community Development, Cheryl Box, prepares to retire, the outsourcing of tax collection through a recent shared service with Chemung County has streamlined the Chamberlain’s office, and expanding citywide economic development responsibilities has increased the workload for the City Manager, Burin said Thursday.

“I’m realigning our personnel to not only provide adequate service delivery, but also to look to the future and place many of our young professionals in decision-making positions,” he said.

Burin will re-establish the position of Deputy City Manager for Operations, and appoint Kimberlee Balok Middaugh to the role. Middaugh previously served as the City’s personnel director…

Elmira officials are searching for grants to bring the City Charter into the new millennium and make it more accessible.

Ok, the city charter is sorta-kinda like our federal constitution, I get that. Why is it though, that a typewritten copy of the federal constitution is at most 4 pages (if you use a really large font), while our little old city charter, is over 40,000 pages long? (That was FORTY THOUSAND PAGES people!)

Sure, I know, there is much nuance in dog control laws and the like, but come on people, get a grip.

How about this proposal, oh fine, elected folk, you are allowed 50 laws, I don;t really care what they are, as I find I follow less and less of them as I get older and older, if you find that you absolutely and positively need a new law in the charter, remove one of the

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Tonight approximately 70-85 area residents gathered in the Auditorium of Southside High School to hear the final draft of the Chemung River Master Plan.

Given by the primary architects of the plan, a Mr. Haas and another individual whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch, the presentation included lectures, many computer enhanced and composed pictures, actual photographs, posters and slides as well as hand out materials. Although audience participation was sparse, overall the meeting was informative and optimistic.
It appears that the final draft of the Chemung River improvement master plan is for the seasonal use of the Chemung River as it flows from the western most Horseheads line all the way downriver past Elmira to the City of Chemung. There was also some mention that upriver Steuben County and Corning have expressed an interest in improving that part of the Chemung River as well.

Overall, the plans include areas for ‘rough’ camping;…

Yeah, just what we need, another master plan. I have to insist though, any politican involved in this is required to wear red tights and a blue cape, that way their do-goodery will be out there for all to know. These politicians will talk and talk and talk, and then when they are done talking, they will dig deep and find the courage to, wait foor it people, yeah, talk some more. Finally, years from now, a master plan will be hammered out, like the one true ring of Frodo, formed from the very sweat of our elected leaders. Of course it will not be useful for anything, Elmira will still be a ghost town (By that time the arena will have passed on), Chemung County will have hemorrhaged it’s last person, and the politicians will then take up the debate of who should…

Governor’s Vision For Upstate Will Benefit Elmira, Mayor Tonello Says

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plans to pump more than $1 billion into the Upstate economy, commit 200 state troopers to help local police fight crime, cut taxes, reduce state mandates for municipalities, and make New York a stronger draw for business and young people will benefit the City of Elmira in 2008 and beyond, Mayor John Tonello said today. “The governor’s vision is clear and his aim is true,” Tonello said. “He recognizes the problems upstate cities face, and his solutions provide relief and assistance where we need it most.” The mayor’s comments came after the governor delivered his State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany. Click for the full release…

Clear vision? Aim is true? Sigh. Politicians sure do speak purty. How come there never is…

Donors give $1,000 for Eldridge cleanup

Elmira officials may beef up police patrols at Eldridge Park following a graffiti incident early Saturday that caused $1,000 to $2,000 in damage.

Elmira Proposed Budget Concerns

While many neighbors seem pleased with Elmira’s Proposed 2008 Budget, others are not happy.

I didn’t know that Nina and I were neighbors, but since we were the only non-city employees at the meeting, I guess we are.  Nina gets some good quotes in, but alas, does not work ‘ielmira.com’ into any of her conversations.

Elmira College Parking Headaches

As construction begins on a new 150 room dorm, some students and neighbors fear their parking headaches will only get worse.

Doesn’t EC want to get more land from the city for parking?   Anything they can do to apply pressure on the parking situation has got to work in their favor, no?

Once again the Chemung County Historical Society is offering a free lecture series. The last series of lectures (which had to do with Chemung County’s involvement in WWII) were as interesting as they were informative and included pictures, posters and many times artifacts. Those giving the lectures were experts in their fields and delighted in answering audience questions.This series, titled “Into History,” promises to be just as good.

November’s series of lectures was well attended and were appropriate for all ages. All lectures are held at the Historical Society, 415 E. Water Street, Elmira. Lectures are informal, approximately 1 hour in length, and are free to the public. Due to space constraints, reservations are recommended but not required. Please call 734-4167.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6 @ 7:00 PM–Women in Aviation
Learn about WWII female aviators from Wings Of Eagles’ curator, Ed Flesch, as he discusses WASPs (Women’s Airforce…