As development of Marcellus shale natural gas grows in Pennsylvania and New York, businesspeople are being invited to a series of breakfast seminars to learn how it may create opportunities for their businesses.  Energy firms are flocking to the region to extract natural gas from Marcellus, and are creating significant business opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga and Chemung Counties are hosting a series of educational webinars entitled ‘Your Business & Marcellus Shale’ to help entrepreneurs and established small and medium sized businesses understand and respond to Marcellus shale-related business opportunities. The series will consist of five weekly early morning webinars, with sessions including how businesses can establish working relationships with natural gas and service companies, how other businesses already are responding, and business planning skills necessary to evaluate and implement possible new business ventures.

In response to interests from stakeholders in the Greater Elmira and Tioga areas, this educational program is brought in collaboration with the EDA University Center at Cornell and Pipeline4Progress.  The series is also co-sponsored by a consortium of universities, chambers of commerce, local planning commissions and regional economic development boards, with leadership from Penn State Cooperative Extension.  Presenters and panelists will include successful local businesses, a natural gas industry representative, and experts from Penn State.

The first four 90-minute sessions meet on Wednesdays beginning at 8am on Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct.28, and Nov. 4.  In observance of Veteran’s Day, the final session will be held on Tuesday Nov. 10.

How to register:

Register by phone at 607-687-4020.

CCE Tioga is located on 56 Main St. in Owego.  Each session begins promptly at 8:00 am with a short question and answer period following the presentation.

There is a fee of $5.00 per (live webinar) session.

Don’t miss the 8th annual Taste of Tioga, Friday September 11, 5:30-8:00 at the Owego Treadway Inn!

The premiere buy local culinary festival and fundraiser highlights the high quality food grown and prepared right in your own backyard.

Sample gourmet style dishes including soups, salads, main courses and deserts. More than 15 local restaurants provide a tantalizing selection of foods, try them all for just $25 per person. Shake hands with your local farmer and get to know the people who grow the great food you’re enjoying.

Wine tasting this year is provided by Lakewood Vineyards, from Watkins Glen. $5 gets you a taste testing from this premier Finger Lakes winery along with a complementary Taste of Tioga wine glass.

While you’re eating, enjoy songs by local musician Trish Engelhart and be sure to browse the silent auction with hundreds of dollars worth of prizes donated by Tioga County businesses and residents.

Tickets are for sale at Cornell Cooperative Extension, or at the door. Tables of 10 may be reserved with prepaid tickets. Don’t miss this savory community event!

For more information or call 607-687-4020 or visit tasteoftioga.com

Families Building Safe Communities Workshop

October 29, 2009 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Owego Treadway Inn

Parenting Educators, Family Advocates, Caseworkers, and other Family Workers will have an opportunity to hear current information about how young children develop skills for respectful relationships and gather resources and activities to share with families.

This workshop is provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County in partnership with Tioga County Delta.

Price is $10.00 per person includes contential breakfast and lunch.

Call 607-687-4020 to register

Join us Sunday, August 9th from 1-4 pm at M.K. Dairy Farm for the last Sundaes at the Farm of the season.

Enjoy Free Ice Cream Sundaes with locally grown seasonal fruit toppings.

Tour the M. K. Dairy farm; See the cows up close and personal! Big tractors and field equipment will also be on display. 4-H and farm demonstrations will be held throughout the afternoon. Enjoy cheese and flavored milks with the Tioga County Dairy Princess.

M.K. Dairy, 5932 Waits Road
Corner of Waits Road and Valley Road, Southside Owego

The WVFM is held in Muldoon Park on Mondays from 4-7 pm. The 2009 season will begin on June 15th and run through October 26th.

Call for vendors

The Waverly Village and Farm Market continues to gain momentum through vendor and customer support as it prepares for its third season in Muldoon Park. The WVFM already has renewed contracts from last year’s vendors, a new commitment from a local hydroponic strawberry vendor, and new inquiries from at least seven prospective vendors.

All interested vendors and musicians are invited to attend an informational meeting about the Waverly Village and Farm Market on May 27th at 7pm in the Phoenix Kid’s Café, 337 Broad Street.

Vendors are urged to register by May 22nd so that a list of vendors can be advertised for our 2009 season.

Download the 2009 Market Application at http://www.waverlyny.org/

For additional information please call Todd Williams at 565-2685 or Andy Fagan, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County at 687-4020 x312.

Technology at the farm market

The WVFM will once again provide the use of a wireless credit card terminal where any customer can use a VISA or Mastercard to withdraw wooden tokens to use as currency at the market (this is a standardized statewide program). In addition, the terminal is able to be used by recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps) to redeem their monthly benefits at the market using their EBT card. There are also state programs administered by Agriculture and Markets to distribute paper checks to WIC participants and seniors for use at farm markets.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County continued partnership with Senator Libous’ Buy from the Backyard campaign will once again receive funds from NYS Agriculture and Markets’ to help support local food systems.

Funds this year will be used to hire a staff person to manage the EBT/ credit debit transactions and to enhance promotion of the market in order to increase the public presence and continue to establish the market’s reputation as a viable outlet for fresh produce and local crafts in The Valley.

Please help us celebrate Tioga County agriculture at the “Farm Days at the Mall” event to be held this weekend, Friday March 13th through Sunday, March 15th at the Oakdale Mall in Binghamton.

This annual event is hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau of Broome and Tioga Counties. An estimated 10- 12,000 people typically attend.

“Farm Days at the Mall” helps educate people about the area’s agricultural industry. People get to view over 50 educational displays, see and learn about farm animals, and enjoy free ice cream.

Hope to see you there!

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