The Fourth Annual Citywide Holiday Lighting Contest, sponsored by the East End Community Center, is well underway. The Center's board has been scouring the entire city, every nook and cranny, to find their favorite decorated homes. This year was an especially difficult judging year, according to Board Member, Richard Stock, as the number of decorated homes appears to have increased over the previous years of the competition.

The city's holiday competition was resurrected in 2008 after a 10-year hiatus. In 1998, Butch Hyde, 7th Ward alderman at the time, was the impetus behind the contest. Now he has joined the members of the Community Center's board to do the tough job of selecting the finalists.

The board has made an initial selection of 25 homes that will now move on to compete for the Grand Prize of $100. But, now is the time for community members to get into the action and register their vote for the "People's Choice" award. The addresses are listed here. You can vote at the link below or call the Youth Bureau at 607-752-3021 ex 26 and leave a message on the machine with your vote. So, why not pile the whole family in the car and get out your city map (ward maps are available on line at www.cortland.org) and enjoy the beautiful displays that adorn the city this year. As Board Member Linda Stock fondly recalls, "My family tradition growing up in Sydney, NY, was to go out and look at all the decorated homes on Christmas night. I love that the city of Cortland is doing a wonderful job in "lighting up" for the holidays, and I'm so happy to be a part of this event each year."

Be sure to register your vote on line or at the Youth Bureau by Saturday, December 31st at midnight. One vote per person please!

For more information, call the Bureau at 607-753-3021. This year's competition was sponsored by O'Shea Tires and The Crown City Fraternal Order of Eagles.

2011 Holiday Lighting Finalists:

• 23 Parker Ave
• 65 W. Main St
• 4 Elizabeth St
• 53 Floral Ave
• 22 Hamlin St
• 11 Jewett Ave
• 194 Groton Ave
• 23 Helen Ave
• 14 Pinecrest
• 11 Townley Ave
• 3 Pearl St
• 22 Delaware Ave
• 15 Frederick St
• 15 Denti Way
• 35 Sunnyfield Dr
• 16 Harmon Ave
• 14 Locust Ave
• 3 Kennedy Parkway
• 103 River St
• 90 River St
• 1 Cleveland St
• 7 Cedar St
• 75 Port Watson St
• 13 Commando Ave
• 92 Bartlett Ave

The East End Community Center is kicking off the Annual Holiday Lighting Contest for all city residents. This year's competition differs from previous years in that the East End Center's board has decided to scour the eight city wards in search of entries. The board will be visiting each ward during the week of December 12-16. If you wish to participate, please have your lights turned on during the hours of 6:00pm to 9:00pm. During these five evenings, board members will be knocking on doors of the houses that are chosen to be entered into the competition for the grand prize of $100. There will be honorable mention prizes awarded as well, and the on-line competition is back this year for the "People's Choice" award. For more information, please contact Cecile Scott at 753-3021 ex 26 or Cecile@cortland.org. This year’s Holiday Lighting contest is sponsored by O'Shea Tires and Service Center at 270 Tompkins Street in Cortland.

After the tremendous response to last year's History of Sports Calendar, the East End Community Center and the Cortland County Historical Society had their work cut out for them to put something together for the 2012 calendar with the same theme. By early accounts, the latest edition of the calendar surpasses the original of 2011!! Be the first to see this unique and fascinating collection of sports photographs from across Cortland County. Both the East End Center and the Historical Society will be on hand at this year's Great Cortland Pumpkin Fest with calendars for purchase. The East End Center can be found at booth #36 and the Historical Society at booth at the large tent with the pumpkin. Be sure to stop by and check out what is sure to be a collector's item for all local sports buffs. All proceeds from the calendar sales go to support both the East End Center and the Historical Society.

For more information about this year's Pumpkin Fest, go to their web site: www.cortlandpumpkinfest.org Or you can contact the Historical Society directly at 756-6071 or the East End Center at 753-3021 concerning other outlets for the calendars.

Hope to see everyone at this year's Pumpkin Fest, Saturday October 1 and Sunday, October 2!

The East End Community Center is pleased to announce the debut of their latest cookbook titled "A Taste of Tradition: Volume Two." The cookbook features a collection of recipes handed down through the generations of Cortland county families. Stop by the East End Center's booth (#36) at the Pumpkin Fest both Saturday, October 1 and Sunday October 2, and take browse through this delicious assortment of tried and true recipes, a must for any cookbook collector. The cookbook also boasts a collection of fascinating historical photos of restaurants and bakeries of days gone by. For more information about the Great Cortland Pumpkin Fest visit:

www.cortlandpumpkinfest.org

For more information about the cookbook and other locations for purchase, please call the Cortland Youth Bureau at (607) 753-3021. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbooks go to support the programs and activities of the East End Community Center.

The East End Community Center and the Cortland County Historical Society invite you to lend assistance with the new calendar that is in the process of being developed for 2012. The theme of the new calendar will be the same as this year’s very popular seller, "Cortland Sports: 100 Years of History in Photographs."

Check your attics and basements for historical photographs of Cortland residents involved in any type of sporting activity, either team sports or individual sports. The time period from 1870 to 1970 will be highlighted in the 2012 calendar. If there is a story to go along with your photograph, please include it. Photographs with all individuals identified are the most valuable for inclusion in the calendar, but we can accept ones where some detective work is needed as well. Space availability limits the number of photographs we can use, so we cannot guarantee that your photograph will be used.

Please drop off all photographs to the Cortland Youth Bureau (35 Port Watson St) or the Cortland Historical Society (25 Homer Ave). You may drop off original photographs that will be returned to you upon completion of the project, or email high resolution scanned copies to Cecile@cortland.org For consideration in the 2012 calendar, photographs must be in to the Youth Bureau or Historical Society no later than Friday, June 24.

For more information, call the Bureau at (607) 753-3021 or the Historical Society at (607) 756-6071.

And, if you have yet to pick up a copy of the 2011 calendar, you're in luck! A small number of calendars remain for sale, but hurry to the Historical Society or the Cortland Youth Bureau before they're gone for good!

Photo Attached: Cortland High School Lacrosse Team on the steps of the old High School at 60 Central Ave. This team pioneered the game at the school in 1926.

Tuesday night's Common Council meeting was the setting for the announcement of the 2010 City-wide Holiday Lighting Contest winners. Former alderman, Harold (Butch) Hyde, representing the East End Community Center, and John Poli, Vice President of the Cortland branch of the Tompkins Trust Company were on hand to make the announcement and hand out the prize money donated by Tompkins Trust.

The winners are as follows:

Grand Prize: Frank and Cheryl Mrozowski

First Runner Up: Thomas Root

Second Runner Up: Leon and Jane Harvey

People’s Choice Award: Sam and Elsie Ferro

After the winners were announced, Mr. Hyde presented a plaque to Mayor Feiszli and the Common Council. The plaque, which was purchased by the City’s Crossing Guards is engraved with the winners names. Each year, the new winners will be added to the plaque. The annual competition is sponsored by the East End Community Center.

Congratulations and thanks to all the contestants that participated this year!

Following the successful premier of their first edition, the East End Community Center is currently developing a second cookbook comprised of recipes donated by residents of the City of Cortland. The cookbook will be titled, "A Taste Of Tradition II." If you would like to be part of this effort, please send your tried and true recipes to the Cortland Youth Bureau, 35 Port Watson St, Cortland 13045.

You can also fax them to (607) 753-3023 or email them to Cecile@cortland.org.

The recipe collection form is available for download at www.cortland.org or www.eastendcenter.org.

You can also handwrite the recipe without the recipe collection form. If there is a story behind the recipe or a related historical photo, please feel free to include these as well. Be sure to print your name, address and phone number on the back of any photographs that you would like returned. The deadline for all recipes is March 31, but why not send yours today! That way, you will be guaranteed a spot in the cookbook. For more information, call the Cortland Youth Bureau at (607) 753-3021.

Download recipe form

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S.A.! What is "pickleball" you ask? Here is your opportunity to learn all about pickleball, including a chance to play the game! The game is named after a cocker spaniel, Pickles, whose family invented the game as a way to bring all the family members together for a fun activity on their vacations. Interested in learning more? Bring the whole family to the County Gymnasium on Greenbush Street on Saturday, February 13 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Cortland's local pickleball team, The Cortland Cucumbers, will be presenting this fun workshop on the art of pickleball. The game is easy to learn and tons of fun for all ages. Just bring a pair of sneakers and wear comfortable clothing. Equipment consists of a plastic whiffle ball and a paddle, both of which will be provided to all participants.

Hope to see you Saturday, February 13th at 3:30pm at the county gym. The program is sponsored by the Cortland County Office for the Aging, and the City of Cortland Youth Bureau. For more information call the Bureau at (607) 753-3021.

More information on Pickleball

Photo Attached: John Busch, member of the local pickleball team, the Cortland Cucumbers, at a recent pickleball practice at the County Gymnasium. Photo credit to the Cortland Cucumbers.

Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone who seems to have everything? Here are some unique gift ideas from the Cortland Youth Bureau and the Cortland County Historical Society.  These two organizations have teamed up to produce a delightful set of 8 note cards depicting various historical scenes and people.  The famous Dexter House, shown here, at the southeast corner of Main and Clinton Streets, provides the backdrop for the rally of motorbike enthusiasts early in the 20th Century, is just one example of what you will find in this collection.  The cards make great thank you notes or just perfect for keeping in touch for any occasion.

Other items to be found at the Historical Society that are sure to please any history buff on you list include anything from old photographs to new publications.  One such popular book is titled "Cortland County Remembers, From the Forties to the Seventies."  Another popular item is the limited edition Cortland County Bicentennial plate.  You can even purchase a beautiful afghan to cuddle up under as you learn more about the history of Cortland.  The gift shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.  For more info, call 607 756-6071 during the hours listed above.  The Historical Society is located at 25 Homer Avenue in Cortland.   Shoppers can also stop by the Cortland Youth Bureau at 35 Port Watson Street in Cortland to purchase the same historical note cards in packages of 8, or individually.  Proceeds for the cards purchased at the Youth Bureau go to support the East End Community Center.

Another popular item available at the Youth Bureau only, are the East End Community Center's "History and Heritage Programs," including ones about the History of Cortland's East End, the Irish, Italian, Lebanese and Ukrainian immigrations to Cortland, and the very popular, "One Hundred Years of Music in Cortland."  All programs are available on both VHS and DVD at a very affordable price.  Contact the Youth Bureau at 753-3021 for more information about these items, or stop down Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.  

The East End Community Center is in the process of developing a cookbook comprised of recipes donated by City of Cortland residents.  The cookbook will then be sold to raise much- needed funds for the community center.  If you would like to be part of this effort, please send your tried and true recipes to the Cortland Youth Bureau at 35 Port Watson Street in Cortland.  Please include your name, address and phone number and as detailed a recipe as possible.  If you have any questions, please call Linda at (607) 753-9441 or Colleen at (607) 753-3017.  It is hoped that all recipes will be collected and chosen for inclusion in the cookbook by mid-November, so please, consider sending your favorite recipe today!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

Habitat For Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties has, as its mission, the elimination of homelessness and substandard housing throughout Tompkins and Cortland Counties.  With volunteer labor and tax-deductible donation of money and materials, we work together to rehabilitate existing homes and construct new ones for families in need.  The result is a modest home, a zero percent interest mortgage, and a brighter future.

The Tompkins/Cortland chapter of Habitat for Humanity is currently in dire need of community members to step up and help us fill the following positions:

• Volunteer Coordinator
• Church Relations Committee Member
• Fund Raising Coordinator
• Large Donation Fund Raising Coordinator
• PR/Media Relations
• Family Support Committee Member
• Family Partner

If you or someone you know is interested in more information about any of these positions, please call (607) 220-3947 or send an email to: VolunteerforTCHFH@habitatnys.org

Classes are held Monday through Thursday from 9:00am until noon at the East end Community Center.  This beginner English course is open to all local area residents.

For More Information Call (607) 758-1111

Sponsored by OCM BOCES