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YATES

Candidates discuss health care, spending
BENTON—Six candidates; Tom Reed, Matt Zeller, Jim Bacalles, Tom O’Mara, Greg Edwards, and Jay Townsend, spoke to about 50 voters at the most recent Finger Lakes Tea Party Meet the Candidates night, Thursday, Aug. 26. The event was held at the Benton fire hall. Speaking first were Reed and Zeller, both candidates for the 29th Congressional district. As a Democrat, Zeller was asked specifically for his opinion on health care. Zeller responded he would not have voted for it, because there is already too much debt. However, he said he agrees with parts of it and thinks it should be amended rather than repealed. Reed also said he disagreed with the reform, but that it should be repealed. He said, “it is wrong.” When asked how it could just be amended, Zeller said there are four years until it goes into affect to look at it and see where to best make amendments. Read More ...

Finger Lakes museum sets meetings
YATES COUNTY—The Finger Lakes Visitors Association (FLVA) will co-sponsor two community information meetings in August regarding the planned Finger Lakes Cultural & Natural History Museum to be located in Yates County. The first will be co-sponsored by Fulkerson Winery and The Observer and held Thursday evening, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. at the Fulkerson Winery, 5576 Route 14. The second forum will be co-sponsored by the FLVA and the Bluff Point Association, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m. at the Yates County Office Building auditorium, on Liberty Street in Penn Yan. According to Steve Knapp, executive director of the Finger Lakes Visitors Association, “These sessions will give residents the opportunity to learn more about the plans to create a world-class, eco-friendly museum, and to express their ideas for this exciting project.” Read More ...

Wineries take top wins in state awards
FINGER LAKES—While this year’s Governor’s Cup went to a winery outside of the immediate area, a number of Seneca and Keuka Lake wineries took top medals in the 2010 New York Wine & Food Classic competition. The competition was held, Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 16 and 17, in Watkins Glen. Last year Anthony Road Winery secured the Governor’s Cup, but this year it went to Swedish Hill Winery’s Riesling Cuvee, out of Romulus. Sheldrake Point Vineyards in Ovid took the Winery of the Year, for a second consecutive year. There were 850 wines and 17 spirits from all over New York entered into this competition. New this year was a Best New York Spirit award, which went to Watkins’ Finger Lakes Distilling for its Seneca Drums Gin. Read More ...

State raises bar on student scoring
TRI-COUNTY AREA—Due to the state changing scoring requirements, fewer students are now meeting the state’s proficiency standards. The New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner made the announcement that affects students in every school district in the state, July 28. The commissioner raised the cut scores for meeting certain levels. Students are evaluated out of four levels, with three and up meaning they met or exceeded the required proficiency or comprehension in math and English Language Arts (ELA). Penn Yan Superintendent Ann Orman said she has already sent a letter to parents explaining the student is not suddenly performing badly, but the requirements are now harder. She added she doesn’t disagree with the commissioner’s action, but said she is surprised that it changed so quickly. Read More ...

Yates approves discount drug program
PENN YAN—Lowering the cost of prescription drugs was addressed by Yates County legislators at the Aug. 9 meeting. Legislators authorized an agreement with ProAct, Inc., a subsidiary of Kinney Drugs, Inc., to endorse the establishment of a county discount prescription drug card program through ProAct, Inc. The program will provide a discount prescription drug card at no cost to the county or its residents. It will be available to any county resident and could be used at any pharmacy, The program may enhance the prescription plans of families and individuals who have prescription drug program, but will mainly serve those who have limited prescription coverage or none. On Aug. 10, ProAct account executive Erison Rodriguez spoke about the program. He said the program is designed to assist the underinsured or non insured individual but anyone who has to pay full price for a prescription could use the card. Read More ...