Stewart’s Shops to hold grand opening on Friday

January 6

SHERBURNE – Stewart’s Shops is holding a grand opening event and ribbon cutting ceremony at its new store located at 9 North Main Street in Sherburne which recently replaced the previous shop at the same location.

The ribbon cutting will take place on Friday, January 6, at 11 a.m. and the store will feature specials all day in honor of the grand opening. Also, a $1,000 donation will be presented to the Sherburne-area Little League following the ribbon cutting.

The expanded shop features all of the former Stewart’s products along with a greater selection of food items, such as freshly made pizza by the pie or slice, and made to order subs. They have also added a walk-in cooler, additional seating, expanded parking and fuel services.

Stewart’s Shops reported its busiest year to date for construction, building 16 shops in 2016. Six of the shops were brand new, and 10 were replacement shops, such as the remodeled store in Sherburne.

Hospice of Chenango County Executive Director retires,

replacement named

February 1

NORWICH – After nine years of serving as Executive Director at Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County, Patricia Outhouse is reportedly retiring and passing on the torch to Kendall Drexler, LMSW.

“I close a forty year healthcare career with a lot of gratitude for the work that I have been able to do and the people that I have had the pleasure to work with,” Outhouse said. “It’s been an honor to help serve the people of Chenango County and I am confident that the organization will continue to provide the highest quality end of life care to this community.”

Drexler – a Chenango County native who graduated from Sherburne-Earlville Central Schools in 2003 – has taken on many roles in her seven years at Hospice including Volunteer Coordinator, Clinical Outreach Coordinator, and Development Coordinator. She received her BSW from Albany in 2007, and her MSW with a concentration in non-profit management and program development from Syracuse in 2010.

“Having worked at Hospice of Chenango County for the past seven years, I am very excited to assume leadership of the agency,” said Drexler. “The staff is compassionate, caring, and committed to easing the suffering of the dying in Chenango County. They are some of the most committed individuals I have ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Drexler went on to say, “In a healthcare world that is ever changing, I am looking forward to seeing what additional services we might be able to provide the community in the coming years.”

Chenango Relay for Life set to relocate to Norwich’s East Park

February 20

NORWICH – As the 21st Relay for Life of Chenango County slowly approaches, the Relay committee have set their sights on bringing the event ‘back-to-basics,’ but with one major modification.

This summer, Relay for Life will take to East Park in the City of Norwich for the first time ever – instead of the old site of the Chenango County Fairgrounds.

According to Marie DeSarro of Relay for Life of Chenango County’s Public Relations, the change was made in an effort to bring more exposure to the event while staying true to its primary purpose.

“Over the last 21 years, the event has gotten so big and there has been so much going on that we just want to downsize a little bit this year and remember why we’re here: to raise money, raise awareness, and walk all night long,” said DeSarro.

“One thing people don’t necessarily realize about Relay is that anyone can come down and walk and raise awareness whether they are registered or not,” said DeSarro. “At the fairgrounds we were a little hidden, but we’re hoping in downtown Norwich there will be more a little more exposure and a little more participants.”

Schumer visits UHS CMH, unveils Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017

April 11

NORWICH – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D - NY) held a press conference in the lobby of UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital (CMH) yesterday morning, April 10, where he unveiled the Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017: legislation which, according to Sen. Schumer, would protect programs of vital importance to rural hospitals like UHS CMH.

“I have always fought for our rural hospitals – rural hospitals are under particular strain,” said Sen. Schumer. “But they’re just as important as any other hospital. And the people who live here in Norwich, or in Chenango County, deserve the same healthcare as the people who live in larger suburban and city areas.”

According to Sen. Schumer, two particular programs responsible for collectively providing $1.8 million in annual funding to UHS CMH – among other rural New York hospitals – are the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) Program, and the Low-Volume Program – both of which are set to expire on September 30 of this year.

“As the only hospital in Chenango County, Chenango Memorial depends on these two programs to keep its doors open and its workers employed – in order to serve working families, seniors, and other residents,” said Senator Schumer. “These programs help countless other rural hospitals which ripple across New York, and that is why I will use my clout in Washington to support efforts to fully fund them.”

City appoints Dee DuFour as City Clerk/Director of Finance