Local News Bites

[Chris 3,211]

On 6/18/2024 at 4:58 PM, TTL News said:

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 1 PM, there will be a ceremony and ribbon cutting at the southside of the Madison Avenue Bridge. This ceremony will be in honor of renaming the Madison Avenue Bridge to the Allen-Berry Bridge.

Earlier this year Elmira City Council passed a resolution to rename the bridge after A'don Allen and Bessie Berry, two local leaders who made great strides for the city's black community. 

You can read more about both of them at this story from WETM news.

The amount of people getting their panties in a wad over this is astounding. 

[MsKreed 1,571]

35 minutes ago, Chris said:

The amount of people getting their panties in a wad over this is astounding. 

I admit I don't follow a lot of social media drama.....what possible objections could any reasonable person have to commemorating local historical figures?  

[Chris 3,211]

38 minutes ago, MsKreed said:

what possible objections could any reasonable person have to commemorating local historical figures?  

Just pissy that it's been changed, "It's always been this and that's what I'm gonna continue to call it," type stuff. You know, run of the mill, Elmira-style ignorance. 

[MsKreed 1,571]

10 minutes ago, Chris said:

Just pissy that it's been changed, "It's always been this and that's what I'm gonna continue to call it," type stuff. You know, run of the mill, Elmira-style ignorance. 

Right....do any of them have any idea what, why or who “Madison Avenue” even refers to?

Since there aren’t any “Madisons” associated with Elmira or Chemung County history, can we assume it’s a generic nod to the 4th US president – like every other Madison Avenue or Street in every other city across the nation?

Are there really a bunch of rabidly faithful James Madison devotees out there offended that his hallowed name will now only be associated with a 2 mile stretch of road, that just doesn’t include the bridge?

[Chris 3,211]

Honestly I think it's just the usual keyboard badasses who want something to complain about no matter what. A certain someone had the perfect response:

[Pvt Snowball 44]

19 minutes ago, Chris said:

Just pissy that it's been changed, "It's always been this and that's what I'm gonna continue to call it," type stuff. You know, run of the mill, Elmira-style ignorance. 

Some folks are ashamed or afraid of change

[command_prompt 298]

To many, Tappan Zee Bridge will always be called just that. I have yet to meet someone who refers to it as a Mario Cuomo Bridge (at least when they are not being cynical). 

[Chris 3,211]

Sure I get it. Truth be told, I’ve no doubt I’ll continue referring to it as “Madison Ave bridge” only because that’s how I’ve known it for decades, not out of spite or whatever goes through someone’s head when they feel the need to post stuff like that.

[KarenK 503]

1 minute ago, Chris said:

Sure I get it. Truth be told, I’ve no doubt I’ll continue referring to it as “Madison Ave bridge” only because that’s how I’ve known it for decades, not out of spite or whatever goes through someone’s head when they feel the need to post stuff like that.

Old habits die hard that's for sure.

Are they actually changing the name of Madison Ave, or only the bridge?

[Pvt Snowball 44]

Only the bridge 

[Hal 553]

47 minutes ago, Chris said:

Sure I get it. Truth be told, I’ve no doubt I’ll continue referring to it as “Madison Ave bridge” only because that’s how I’ve known it for decades, not out of spite or whatever goes through someone’s head when they feel the need to post stuff like that.

Same here , it’s force of habit for most including myself . True a lot of folks are afraid of change to some extent, again myself included , but as KarenK stated “ old habits die hard “ . 

[Twin Tiers Living 489]

On Saturday, the New York State Police, in Painted Post, made a felony arrest after a several-month investigation into a child pornography case. 

Kevin C. Pilon, age 59, of Corning, NY, was charged with Promoting a Sexual Performance By A Child (D Felony) and Possessing a Sexual Performance By a Child (E Felony) after State Police conducted an investigation into a CyberTip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The State Police executed a search warrant on his residence and seized a large amount of Child Sexual Abuse Material stored on Pilon’s personal computer. 

Pilon was processed at SP Painted Post and taken to Steuben County Jail for CAP arraignment. 

[Twin Tiers Living 489]

Quote

 

Discover the newest exhibit at the Chemung Valley History Museum: “Grand, Domestic and Truly Comfy”: The Langdon Mansion in Elmira, New York.

Now open and on display until May 31, 2025, this exhibition tells the story of the Langdon mansion, home to one of Elmira’s most prominent and historically significant families. The exhibit features numerous period images of the interior, as well as original furniture, decorative objects, and works of art. Many of these pieces, on loan from the Center for Mark Twain Studies, have not been seen by the public for nearly 85 years.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the grandeur and domestic life of the Langdon family!

 

 

[Chris 3,211]

[Twin Tiers Living 489]

Posts concerning the fire under the Clemens Center Parkway bridge and the homeless have been moved here.

[Twin Tiers Living 489]

Quote

 

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – The historic First Baptist Church at Wisner Park, which has stood in Elmira for 132 years, is falling apart. The Elmira Code Department says there is “imminent danger of collapsing bricks on the exterior of the structure.” Signs posted on the doors on June 11th say the structure is “unsafe.” 

The church and its congregation were also a part of the Underground Railroad, led by the efforts of sexton John W. Jones, who escaped slavery in Virginia in 1844.

 

Source

[Elizabeth Whitehouse 22]

Oh, great. Another historic Elmira landmark is likely to be demolished.

[Kevin 456]

Change is good, nothing was meant to last forever. 

[KarenK 503]

I don't understand everyone these days.  The article got posted on FB and people are demanding Elmira fund and fix up a "historic" landmark that they do not even own, but have an absolute fit about fixing the clock tower, also historic, that they do own. 

[Elizabeth Whitehouse 22]

11 hours ago, Kevin said:

Change is good, nothing was meant to last forever. 

Not quite sure how to respond to that. Builders of the past built to last, but modern America thinks that 50 years is an adequate life-span. To tear down magnificent buildings is a shame. Yes, change is good, but only if it is for the better. What do you imagine will happen to that space?

[Elizabeth Whitehouse 22]

11 hours ago, KarenK said:

I don't understand everyone these days.  The article got posted on FB and people are demanding Elmira fund and fix up a "historic" landmark that they do not even own, but have an absolute fit about fixing the clock tower, also historic, that they do own. 

I haven't seen the FB article. Did it really say that the City should fund and fix up this building? And, yes, it is historic. It was built in the 19th century when Elmira was a city of some importance. Perhaps you don't want to be reminded of Elmira's magnificent past. Perhaps you would rather it become a downtown mall.

I know of no-one who objects to fixing the clock tower. Any "fit" is about why it has taken the City so long to act.

[MsKreed 1,571]

11 hours ago, KarenK said:

I don't understand everyone these days.  The article got posted on FB and people are demanding Elmira fund and fix up a "historic" landmark that they do not even own, but have an absolute fit about fixing the clock tower, also historic, that they do own. 

What do the FB devotees think the City of Elmira should do? It’s a privately owned church. It’s already tax exempt, and diverting taxpayer funds to a religious institution would be inappropriate.

 

Its condition and lack of upkeep clearly indicate that the congregants and private community didn’t feel its historical value was worth investing in over the years. Perhaps all the people who suddenly have deep regard for this historical landmark needed to organize some fundraisers before it got to this point?

It's reminiscent of The Little Red Hen. "We've never cared enough to worry about preserving it ourselves, but now we're clutching our pearls that no one else did either". 

[Chris 3,211]

2 hours ago, Elizabeth Whitehouse said:

I know of no-one who objects to fixing the clock tower. Any "fit" is about why it has taken the City so long to act.

While hardly a firm representation of the feelings of the majority in this area, I have seen many negative comments about the cost of the clock tower repair. 

 

2 hours ago, MsKreed said:

It's reminiscent of The Little Red Hen. "We've never cared enough to worry about preserving it ourselves, but now we're clutching our pearls that no one else did either". 

Right. Every one "cares" or "thinks someone oughta" but that's as far as it goes. 

[Elizabeth Whitehouse 22]

I enjoy the interaction on this site, but I find it hard to reply to comments.  This is intended for Chris.

That is my point exactly. If the City had acted 10-15 years ago, the cost wold have been much less.

That said, what do you want? Just let it fall down?

[command_prompt 298]

1 hour ago, Elizabeth Whitehouse said:

 

That said, what do you want? Just let it fall down?

What is the owner's intention? Is he interested in rehabbing it? What would the building be used for, once restored? Church? Another gym? https://www.mytwintiers.com/community/former-elmira-church-to-become-new-sports-complex/ Should it just stand empty until someone shows interest in it? All while the owner is expected to pay taxes, of course?