The month of March is Youth Art Month. To honor the young talented artists in this county the Franklin Street Gallery will be displaying artwork by students from different schools in Schuyler County. Numerous Odessa student made artwork will be displayed at the gallery for the workd to see and enjoy. More information adn pictures will be added soon.
Due to budget cuts this year, the Schuyler County Youth Bureau was unable to send a selection of youth to Albany to meet with Senator Winner and Assemblyman O'Mara at the Annual Youth Leadership Forum. Instead The Youth Bureau arranged a meeting with a selection of seven youth from Schuyler County, two from Odessa and five from Watkins, to meet with Senator Winner and Assemblyman O'Mara to talk about different problems in the community. The meeting took place on February 5th, at Senator Winner's office in Elmira. Also at the meeting were youth from the Elmira Youth Court and representatives from South-Side High School's after school program.
The youth talked about the budget cuts Governor Paterson is posing for this years State Budget. The cut that the students focused on was the possible elimination of T.A.N.F (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) from the budget. This cut would pose a difficult problem for many people in the county, including many youth. The youth will be effected because if T.A.N.F is cut, the Summer Youth Employment Program will also be lost. This program has helped place about 25 young adults, from schuyler county alone, that meet the criteria of T.A.N.F. into a summer job that can stand as another source of income for struggling families. These teens are able to learn the skills needed in a job, and the responsibilites that come with it. For example, Ryan, a student that took part in T.A.N.F. Summer Youth Employment, was a very shy person going into the program. He wan't one to start up a conversation, however he was a hard worker. By the end of the program he wasn't as shy. He learned how to speak up and take part in what he does. There are smilar outcomes with other students. They learned how to manage their time so they get to work on time. They also learned how to manage and how to value the money that they earned.
To show how T.A.N.F was beneficial to the county, the students put together about a ten minute video to present to the Senator and Assemblyman. The movie was set up as a Nightly News Special. With Youth Court Coordinator Adam Lawton as the host. Members of the Youth Court and other youths put together a skit about how T.A.N.F. helps the community and programs they take part in. Also on the video were monolgues a Youth Board membera, a Summer Youth Employment worker and a eorker from Cornell Cooperative Extension where a youth from the summer program worked.
The presentation was well recieved by Senator Winner and Assemblyman O'Mara. Both vocalized their concern over the budget cuts and that they appreciated the youth coming and expressing their concern over the possible elimination of T.A.N.F. from the State Budget.
In Picture: Assemblyman O'Mara, Ethan Clark, Maggie Lucero, Jesse Turner,Lucy Craig, Megan Dupuy, Jessi Woodward, Caitlyn Lawton, and Senator Winner
The tri-wrestling match between Odessa, Candor and Marathon. This match was also Odessa'd Senior Night. On January 6th both Lucas Smith and Wyatt Bowen were honored.
At the Boys Basketball game on February 10th Seniors on the Boys Basketball team and the Cheerleading Squad were honored. For The Cheerleaders the seniors were Grace Terry, Heather Page and Chelsey Wilson. For the Boys Basketball team the seniors were Daniel Stephens, Trever Carey, Jordan Eaves, Joe Brown and Derick Harrington. The Seniors were honored during the gmaes half-time.
February 12th the girls basketball teamplayed against Tioga, and it was also their Senior Night. The five seniors were Stephanie Colling, Stephanie Letteer, Brenda Wilber, Rebecca Ayers and Whitney Ayers. The five were honored during half time with their parents.
Middle School students attended the National Junior Honor Society inductions on Tuesday night. Mr. Frame and Mr. Conlon were on hand to honor the inductees. Twenty-one students were inducted. They were: Richard Brown, Meghan Coates, Brooke Collins, Tyler Dupuy, Manly Gavich, Tyler Goossen, Samantha House, Michael Hughey, Tiffany Kelly, Sarah Norton, Dana Roberts, Joseph Rorick, Aviva Safir, Sam safir, Hailie Searles, Desiree Simpson, Ashton Stadelmaier, Callie Stillman, Autumn Taylor, Brittany VanAmberg, and Brooke Visscher
Bowling Senior night
By Anthony Curren
I’m proud to say that the Odessa Montour Bowling team has had one great season. We added new faces to the team, and the boy’s team won four games in our season. Many of our top bowlers added more than 20 pins to their total over this season. Last Tuesday, The team had its Senior Night. The team honored seniors Dillion Salzer, Darren Sipes, Steven Benjamin, Seimei Sanga, Maggie Lucero, Mallory Richards, Megan Moss, and Sarah Gridley.
James Turner and Tony Rice weren’t present for the match, but are also seniors on the team. Odessa’s boys won their 4th victory with a 2061-1889. The girls lost 2199-1909. The highest team totals were by Aaron Fisher with a 509, and Megan Moss rolled a 455.
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click on the link to see the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbiCZei6nXk
Our own cheerleaders gathered at Watkins Glen for the IAC competition. Cheerleading teams performed a choreographed cheer which included stunts and cheers. Our team came home with a 4th place trophy.
more story to follow.
T. Anderson is well known for his cheery, quick witted personality and his infamous whistling. He has been a teacher here at OM for several years, dedicating some of his time to sports including Tennis, Football, and Basketball.
It is impossible to meet "Senor" as he is most commonly referred to and not have a lasting impact. His students say he is "humorous" and makes his classes "interesting and relative." As a matter of fact, he is so loved by his students that on Friday, January 22nd, a day before his 60th Birthday his 6th period ACE Spanish class threw him a surprise "fiesta."
Students purchased and created crafty decorations and bought him gifts and food. During lunch, they quickly ran into his classroom and with the lights off brightly decorated his door and the inside of his room. Inside awaited his anxious students equipped with party poppers, confetti, balloons and all the excitement and love a teacher could ask for. 
They lined his front board with Happy Birthday streamers, his floor with personalized "Senor Quoted" balloons, his white board with a Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game and his Promethean Activboard with his favorite latin singer, Shakira.
They crouched down, lights off listening for Mr. Anderson's whistle coming down the hall. Then, with their party hats on shot confetti over their teacher in celebration of his birthday. They enjoyed cupcakes, refreshments, games and stories. Senor recieved 1 "fancy" pack, fanny pack which held flash cards of words he made up, toothpicks and other odd items. He gave a speech to his students in spanish which generally translated to "thank you my students."
What better way to celebrate a 60th Birthday than with the students who love you? Feliz Cumpleanos a Senor!
-by B. Lauper
The hands on fun with glass activity was the highlight of the sculpture and ceramics student's field trip to The Corning Museum of Glass. Students first toured the museum's collection and watched the Hot Glass Show in which a corning craftsman created a glass bowl by glass working techniques. The demonstration lasted twenty minutes. Afterwards, students participated in three hands on activities: the etched glass, cut glass suncatcher and a ornament created by blowing. The artwork will arrive at OM soon and be on display in the rotunda.
