Four people were taken into custody after representatives from several law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant Friday at a residence in the Village of Horseheads the Chemung County Sheriff's Office Special Services Unit carried out a raid at 147 Matthews Circle as a result of a multi-agency investigation into stolen property — including weapons and ammunition The search warrant was executed without incident and four individuals who were inside the residence were removed No names or charges against those occupants have been released at this time Several animals that were inside the home were secured by animal control Members of the sheriff's office road patrol and criminal investigation division along with personnel from the Horseheads Police Department remained on the scene to process and collect evidence Business: Bounce house venue opens in Elmira. How to 'Level Up' with activities at Southtown Plaza and Sheriff Bill Schrom said additional information will be released at a later time Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray To get unlimited access to the latest news please subscribe or activate your digital account today UPDATE 05/03: The Chemung County Sheriff's Office said two people were arrested and charged as a result of the search warrant executed at a home on Matthews Circle on Friday 44-year-old Jennifer Savage was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 45-year-old April Greene was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property Both women were arraigned and released.  The Sheriff's Office says the other two individuals removed from the home during the search were not charged the Civil Division was executing an eviction warrant in Elmira Heights when they were tipped off that thousands of dollars in personal belongings had been stolen from that residence.  An investigation led them to 147 Matthews Circle where they recovered thousands of dollars of stolen property along with controlled substances and an illegal firearm The Sheriff's Office says the Village of Horseheads Code Enforcement has deemed the home uninhabitable and anyone found inside the home outside the hours of 8 a.m is subject to criminal arrest.  Additionally four dogs were removed from the residence during the search warrant and a stolen parrot was recovered and returned to the rightful owner and Sheriff Schrom says more arrests are expected -- According to the Chemung County Sheriff's Office a search warrant was executed at a home on Matthews Circle as a result of a multi-agency investigation into stolen property that includes a lawnmower and snow blower and more.  police say four people were taken into custody and multiple animals in the home were secured by animal control Police say they remain on the scene collecting evidence and the investigation is active and ongoing.  NY (WENY) -- Multiple law enforcement are on scene in a residential neighborhood in the village of Horseheads and SWAT officers are at a home on Matthews Circle Several people could be seen leaving the home with their hands in in the air and being detained by officers just before 10 A.M Armed officers could also be seen surrounding the home WENY News is working to find out more information about the circumstances of the police activity Two women were arrested following a standoff in Horseheads after deputies uncovered stolen goods face multiple felony charges including grand larceny and possession of stolen property Authorities said the investigation began after an eviction in Elmira Heights led to reports of missing items A search warrant at a Matthews Circle home recovered thousands of dollars in stolen goods Though Savage and Greene were processed and released officials said the home was condemned and further arrests are expected as the investigation continues Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. Four people were taken into custody following a standoff at a home in Horseheads Chemung County deputies executed a search warrant Friday morning at 147 Matthews Circle and equipment tied to larcenies in Elmira Heights Officers deployed flash grenades before entering the residence and the area was locked down during the operation Animal control also removed pets from the property as police processed the scene and gathered evidence Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing with multiple agencies continuing to coordinate on the case FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. Horseheads High School senior Mason Holloway added to a historic senior year Wednesday afternoon by pitching his second solo perfect game of the season in a 1-0 road victory over Elmira This was the third full seven-inning perfect game Holloway has been part of in 2025 The right-hander struck out 15 of the 21 batters he faced while throwing 79 pitches "Everything seems to be going my way," Holloway said "Everything with the defense seems to be going well too It's easy to throw up there with the guys behind you knowing that if the ball gets put in play they're going to be outs Official records from the National Federation of State High School Associations list only 12 others nationally to pitch at least two career perfect games in high school baseball Only four pitchers are listed with three perfect games which is also the record for most in a season The only New York pitcher on the list is Anthony Velasquez of Bayside Josh Stout tripled home Patrick Laney in the third inning for the game's lone run as the Blue Raiders improved to 10-0 Elmira ace Aedan Palmer gave up four hits over six innings Holloway pointed to third baseman Lyncoln Bennett's play on a bunt in the sixth inning as one of the defensive highlights Jackson Cavalier hit a line drive that Laney fielded in his tracks in center field Jeff Limoncelli hadn't had a perfect game from his team since taking over as Horseheads varsity coach in 1998 "He is a talent I haven't seen it before," Limoncelli said "The one thing that makes him unique is he throws strikes We've had a lot of good pitchers in the past and in the area Like I told him (before the seventh inning) 'You've got one-two-three coming up for Elmira he's been great for us for the last three years and he certainly is going to be a welcome sight of eyes for Binghamton University." More: Girls lacrosse: 9 of the top players in Elmira-Corning region this season Holloway pitched the first five innings and struck out 11 in a combined perfect game with Brendan Clark a 9-0 win over Binghamton to open the season His next start saw him go the distance in a perfect game against Chesterfield (South Carolina) during the opening game of the Blue Raiders' spring trip to Myrtle Beach Holloway scattered nine hits and allowed one earned run in a 7-3 victory last week against previously unbeaten Corning Wednesday's effort gave Holloway a 4-0 record this season He has allowed one earned run and nine hits over 26 innings "(Limoncelli) and all the other guys I've thrown with they've worked hard to develop me and obviously they're doing the right thing," Holloway said when asked about his pinpoint control "The mechanical part of it is just hard work and effort every day you've just got to go up there knowing and try and hit spots If you keep your mind clear and do everything you're supposed to Holloway is a Binghamton University commit he struck out 69 and walked one over 36 regular-season innings while posting a 0.19 ERA He has also been a big bat in the lineup and strong presence on the roster Limoncelli said Holloway is fun to be around "Sometimes you want him to be a dog out there and he doesn't have to But you get to the sixth and seventh inning in a tight game The Blue Raiders are seeking a fourth consecutive sectional title this season "That comes with working hard in practice every day like we do and just staying together as a team "No matter if you’re playing or not playing We’re all picking each other up when we need to It’s a group of 16 guys who all love each other WETM - MyTwinTiers.com Students showcase innovation at Corning Community College expo Salmonella fears cause tomatoes recall in New York and Pennsylvania Dozens of properties available for bid in upcoming Chemung County Property Auction Sold-out fundraiser in Corning raises money for CareFirstNY Elmira Heights fundraiser supports high school student diagnosed with cancer New York State budget includes ban on cell phone use in schools Bath man arrested on felony charge after domestic incident in the village Multiple people in custody after police standoff in Horseheads is expected to open soon at a former Denny’s restaurant location on Chemung Street Crews have been hard at work transforming the building from a restaurant into a dispensary “Crews have been working at this 950 Chemung Street site for more than a year,” said owner Kevin McFall “To finally be getting close to opening feels great.”  Archie’s Cannabis Company will be open from 12 p.m seven days a week once the dispensary officially opens McFall said upon entry there will be an ID check to make sure everyone is at least 21 years old The dispensary will offer a variety of cannabis products including pre-rolls Horseheads Village Mayor Kevin Adams said McFall has put a tremendous financial investment into revitalizing the former Danny’s restaurant building and the project has the support of the village Archie's Cannabis Company will mark the first dispensary in Horseheads “I’m 100 percent in support of small business,” Adams said put a ton of money into it and I thank him for his investment.”  Dispensaries have begun to pop up in the Elmira and Corning areas a few years after New York state legalized marijuana sales. The Dabber Hashery, a craft cannabis boutique, opened in January at 1051 College Ave. in Elmira More: Watchdog releases DEC's Peanut the squirrel incident reports. What documents show According to a New York State Office of Cannabis Management report, the cannabis tax, application fee and fine revenue totaled $80.2 million for the state fiscal year 2023-2024 The Town of Henrietta in suburban Rochester, which had two operating dispensaries for much of 2024, has generated over $750,000 in cannabis tax revenue The Walmart Supercenter in the Southern Tier Crossing shopping plaza in Horseheads is in line for some upgrades The Chemung County store is one of over 20 Walmart locations in New York state that will be remodeled this year replaced the original Walmart more than a decade ago Walmart officials said Walmart is planning to remodel over 650 of its stores nationwide "Our stores often serve as the heartbeat of the communities we operate in and these remodels are a testament to our dedication to enhancing that role," said senior vice president of Walmart's East Business Unit Annie Walker "By investing in our stores and associates we are not only improving the shopping experience but also reinforcing our commitment to being a vital part of the community's fabric helping to build a brighter future for all."  bold signage," "exciting new displays to better showcase merchandise" and "more of what customers are looking for" through expanded departments and the addition of new items Walmart is also planning to expand their online pickup and delivery as well as make changes to its pharmacy department a new private screening room and privacy checkout areas More: Tai Chi Bubble Tea restaurant opening soon in downtown Watkins Glen. What it will offer. Walmart currently has 111 retail units and five supply chain facilities in New York and employs over 39,600 associates in the state Twenty-three of those New York locations are set to be remodeled this year Tunnel to Towers joins Horseheads Fire Department for 17th annual golf tournament There's something about season openers against Binghamton for Horseheads baseball Last year the Blue Raiders gave head coach Jeff Limoncelli his 400th career win with a victory over Binghamton produced the first perfect game in Limoncelli's 28-season tenure (including the 2020 COVID season with no games) courtesy of right-handers Mason Holloway and Brendan Clark With a 16-2 victory over Vestal in a rematch of last year's Section 4 Class AA championship series two days later the Blue Raiders' quest for a fourth consecutive sectional championship is off to a flying start "We’re a work in progress," Limoncelli said The win against Vestal came after the Raiders fell behind 2-0 against hard-throwing Golden Bears ace Ben Tanton Horseheads got to Vestal's bullpen to score a combined 12 runs in its final two at-bats "Today we had quality at-bats and we played great defense," Limoncelli said Not only was the perfect game the first for a Limoncelli-coached team but he was told by previous coach Jim Keenan that none of Keenan's pitchers threw a perfect game during a 21-season tenure that produced 348 victories No team in the region has had a collection of pitchers like Horseheads over those nearly five decades It has included the likes of Mansfield University Division II All-American Steve Micknich MLB draftees Mike Limoncelli and Dylan Manwaring He struck out 11 over five innings in the perfect game while Clark fanned three over the final two but because of pitch counts I get them out of there," Limoncelli said I got him out at five because I really don’t care about the no-hitter on the first game of the season Limoncelli and his team enjoyed the combined moment "The Clark kid came in and threw great," Limoncelli said Horseheads has won 10 Section 4 championships since Limoncelli took over as head coach in 1998, highlighted by the 1999 Class A state title when that was the largest classification of four in New York Last year's team went 17-3 and saw its season end against Wallkill ace Kyle DeGroat DeGroat signed with the Kansas City Royals after he was drafted in the 14th round foregoing a chance to pitch at the University of Texas "Right now it's just playing baseball and seeing what we have and trying to get confidence in a lot of our players and keeping our guys healthy if I can," Limoncelli said of the approach early in the season Holloway walked just one in 36 regular-season innings last season while striking out 69 and posting a 0.19 ERA His fellow Southern Tier Athletic Conference West/Metro all-conference pick in the rotation Hays recently underwent an MRI after experiencing soreness in his arm Limoncelli said he thinks Hays will be fine but won't play him until Hays is for sure ready Returning all-division selections are senior catcher Trevor Reidy senior shortstop Josh Stout and sophomore pitcher/utility player Cooper Ball who got the win and drove in five runs against Vestal Patrick Laney is a stalwart in the outfield "Laney gets to everything in center field," Limoncelli said (Keagan) Monahan and even (Ben) Torgalski comes in up the middle and I've got a catcher who does a nice job behind the plate Horseheads will take advantage of the school's spring break to play in the Cal Ripken Experience next week in Myrtle Beach The Raiders have four games scheduled there from April 14-17 playing in good weather hopefully and getting some games and practices in down South," Limoncelli said Nationwide retailer Joann, formerly Joann Fabrics, plans to close hundreds of outlets across the country as part of a companywide financial restructuring Joann originally filed for bankruptcy in March 2024 and transitioned from a publicly traded entity to private before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again last month as the company's fiscal struggles continued closing 500 of its roughly 850 locations nationwide Included on that list is the Joann outlet at the Southern Tier Crossing shopping center "This was a very difficult decision to make given the major impact we know it will have on our team members our customers and all of the communities we serve," Joann said in a statement to the Hagerstown Herald-Mail "A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the company determined which stores should remain operating as usual at this time," the statement said "Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for Joann." Public safety Steuben County 911 shifts to new and improved public notification platform. How to sign up A court hearing to approve the closures is scheduled for Friday company officials anticipate going-out-of-business sales will begin at these stores Saturday and could continue for several months A full list of stores affected by the closure plan is available at joannrestructuring.com Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray Warwick scored the final eight points to shake off Horseheads in a 40-31 victory Saturday in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association girls basketball Class AA regional final at Kingston High School The Blue Raiders finished with a 16-6 record after beating Binghamton, 54-51, in overtime for their second-consecutive Section 4 title Section 9 titlist Warwick (22-1) will play Section 5 champion Rochester Aquinas in a state semifinal at 11:45 a.m March 22 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy Starpoint beat Horseheads with a 3-pointer at the buzzer in December at Elmira's Josh Palmer tournament closed her high school hoops career with 20 points She scored 18 of the Blue Raiders' first 20 points on a day dominated by defensive play Warwick led 9-3 after one quarter and 17-12 at halftime Reese Girardi hit four 3-pointers and scored 15 points to lead Warwick (22-1) More: Binghamton boys basketball team secures spot in NYSPHAA final 4 for first time in 39 years twice responding when Horseheads moved within one possession of the lead The Raiders scored the first five points of the third quarter to tie the score Kelsy Larney hit a 3-pointer for her only points of the day to put Warwick up again Girardi followed from 3-point range for a 24-17 advantage Warwick led 32-23 early in the fourth quarter before Maddie Ribble and Samantha Bonnell hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Horseheads Wolf's hoop while getting fouled with 2 minutes 15 seconds remaining brought Horseheads within 32-31 Quadrino responded 17 seconds later with a 3-pointer for Warwick which added five foul shots while clamping down on the defensive end More: Express boys place second at NYSPHSAA Bowling Championships "Kids had a great season as repeat Section 4 Class AA champions and three-time STAC West division champs "We have six seniors that we are really going to miss and 12 solid returners from this sectional roster Add solo perfection to the storied pitching career of Horseheads High School senior Mason Holloway Holloway struck out 16 of the 21 batters he faced Monday morning in tossing a perfect game in a 9-0 victory over Chesterfield (South Carolina) during the opening game of Horseheads' spring trip to Myrtle Beach The right-hander struck out the final eight batters The closest Chesterfield came to a base runner was a barreled fly ball from Rocket Watford that Devin Sullivan tracked down in right field More: Corning's approach in bid for back-to-back state titles? 'We don't think about that stuff' Monday's effort followed a combined perfect game for Holloway and Brendan Clark in a 9-0 triumph against Binghamton to open the season April 1 Holloway went the first five innings of that game but when you have a job to do you’ve got to get out there and do it anyway regardless of what time you’ve got to throw," Holloway said when asked about the early start Finally nice to throw in some warm weather." Before the combined effort of Holloway and Clark there hadn't been a perfect game for Horseheads baseball in at least the previous 48 years Now the program has two in a span of less than two weeks "Everything seemed to be going our way," Holloway said "Starting out when we put two on the board in the first it almost gives you a sense of relief when you go out there "The team made it super comfortable to be out there you’re pretty comfortable on the mound when you have that group of guys behind you." With a chilly day and a long season in front of Horseheads Blue Raiders head coach Jeff Limoncelli lifted Holloway after 57 pitches against Binghamton He let Holloway know in the fourth inning Monday that it was his game to finish I assume he was more comfortable letting me go farther," said Holloway all the guys are conditioned to throw a full game if we need to." and Micah Hays doubled and drove in two runs The Raiders (3-0) have three more games scheduled in Myrtle Beach where they're competing in the Cal Ripken Experience "We've only played two back home," Holloway said the more prepared we'll be when we get back and face all the games that really mean the most." Holloway is a Binghamton University commit and last season struck out 69 and walked just one over 36 regular-season innings while posting a 0.19 ERA This is the fourth varsity season for Holloway who was called up from junior varsity as a freshman and was part of the Blue Raiders' sectional title Horseheads added Section 4 championships in 2023 and 2024 Doing the rare is nothing new for Holloway. As a junior, he hit a buzzer-beater from three-quarters court to give the Horseheads boys basketball team a 72-69 win over New Hartford Looking to get a head start on St. Patrick's Day celebrations before the official holiday arrives on March 17 Hundreds of people are expected to flock to downtown Horseheads on Saturday will start at the corner of Center and Fletcher streets event organizer and member of the Horseheads Fire Department The parade route will then go from Fletcher to South Main Street continuing through Hanover Square before ending at the fire station starting at Horseheads High School and concluding at the Horseheads Fire Department,” Sullivan said “The crowd attending is very weather driven If it’s in the 40s or 50s hundreds of people will fill the entire parade route with the majority at Hanover Square but pretty much throughout the entire route.”  Saturday's early forecast in Horseheads calls for partly sunny skies with a high of 40 degrees Activities at the parade will include Irish dancers and the Gates Keystone Club Police Pipe & Drum the Horseheads Fire Department completed the annual painting of a 10-by-10 Shamrock in the middle of Hanover Square “On Saturday Irish flags will be put up throughout the entire route.”  The annual parade is run by the Horseheads Fire Department and the Friends of Saint Patrick’s Parade More: Stanley’s St. Patrick’s Day collection is sold out: Shop Meadow green alternatives this parade is like the beginning of spring,” Sullivan said “We always look forward to putting out this event We hope to see great weather and a lot of people enjoying the parade.”  The celebration will continue the following weekend the Horseheads Fire Department will hold its annual St  The Village of Horseheads is calling on residents students and community groups to roll up their sleeves and help beautify the village's public spaces during the "I Love My Parks" Community Clean-Up Day Horseheads Village Mayor Kevin Adams said the event will be held from noon to 4 p.m it's a celebration of civic pride and shared stewardship," Adams said "Whether you're raking leaves or painting park features every hand helps make Horseheads a more beautiful place to live."  Adams said the volunteer event is part of a village-wide initiative to prepare parks and public spaces for the spring and summer seasons How to volunteer for Horseheads cleanup eventAdams said each location offers a unique opportunity to make a visible difference in the community work gloves and appropriate attire for the tasks they sign up for Some painting and construction projects require volunteers to be 14 years or older and have relevant experience More: Finger Lakes Land Trust secures property along Chemung River. How land will be utilized Volunteers of all ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate Projects range from basic park clean-up and flower planting to painting historic structures and assembling picnic tables This is part of a series running during the 2024-25 school year profiling the top high school sports programs in the Elmira-Corning region of the Southern Tier over the last 25 years This is the fourth story on top winter programs The eye-popping numbers since Andy Scott took over as head coach of the Horseheads girls basketball team in 1999 include 14 division titles 10 sectional championships and a record of 379-162 Horseheads (13-4) secured a third consecutive Southern Tier Athletic Conference West Division title this season and takes a 13-4 record into Wednesday's 6 p.m A win gives the Blue Raiders a shot at a third straight conference championship Friday at Union-Endicott High School against either Johnson City or Susquehanna Valley For all Scott has done for Horseheads hoops he defers to everyone else associated with the program when asked about the keys to its success Scott points out the backing provided by the school administration the hands-off approach from supportive parents and the contributions of his coaching colleagues It's a culture built on having people around you that you can trust "You get a JV coach who’s been with you the whole time like Jerry Laney," Scott said "You pick up an assistant coach in Pat Bonnell who he and I have pretty much the same exact views with what we do He does a great job and someday I’ll be good cop Scott added the school's modified girls coaches – Brooke Hockeborn and Thomas Olver – set the tone there is a level of dedication that rubs off on their teammates but they have always given 100% with dedication and it always pays off in the end because they outwork people and they give everything they can to the program Horseheads 3-sport star Megan Wolf discusses her competitive nature, family and her future Among standout seasons were 2000-01 and 2001-2002 The first of those teams advanced to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association final four falling 58-55 to Central Catholic in the state final in Class A then the highest classification in New York This season's team includes six seniors who have been part of three STAC West titles plays at William Smith College after breaking Horseheads single-season and career 3-point shooting records is the starting point guard as an eighth-grader is now at SUNY New Paltz after finishing an all-state career with Horseheads last season a 17 points-per-game scorer in 2024-25 who credits the coaches with giving players the tools to succeed The other seniors are 6-foot standout forward Jordyn Gross "I know the past six years I've played Horseheads basketball I've created some of the best memories," Wolf said "It's just a fun atmosphere to be in when everybody wants to be here everybody is competitive as you and wants to win." It started out as a marketing slogan for Kellogg's but the owners of a new Horseheads diner took the phrase "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" to heart Around the Square Diner opened Dec and just recently rolled out a new menu of breakfast and lunch specialties likely to satisfy even the biggest appetites The business is owned and operated by Matthew Rogers and co-owned by his mother and it's a good place for anyone who is really hungry to stop in for a meal We have one called a 'slaughterhouse breakfast' and one called the 'carnivore,'" she said Sandwiches include creations with such imposing names as "bullheaded BBQ" and "big porker." Other lunch items include single "The sandwiches are really amazing," Ronda Rogers said Customers can order anything off the menu at any time during business hours Local history Charles J. Langdon, Mark Twain's brother-in-law, made impact on Elmira: History column "Our customers are loving the flexibility of our menu our menu caters to everyone's appetite," he said "We want everyone to eat and have large families feel comfortable going out for breakfast Dine in or take out is available. To learn more about Around the Square Diner, call 607-767-6067, or look them up on Facebook (WENY) -- The Village of Horseheads Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2025-2026 budget during a meeting Thursday night The approved budget comes with a $12.3 million price tag The big ticket item on the budget is a roughly $5 million upgrade to the pool at Thorne Street Park Around $4 million of that money would come from the New York Swim Grant That grant has not yet been approved by the state Related: Improvements to Thorne Street Park included in Village of Horseheads 2025-2026 budget proposal  Some residents spoke up during a public comment portion of the meeting They shared their concerns about the price of some of the other items in the budget This includes money for an electronic sign in Teal Park as well as an inflatable movie screen at Thorne Street Park The residents say those two items will cost around $70,000 Village Mayor Kevin Adams said that the price is not set in stone and that the numbers the residents gave were just an estimate The mayor said he's proud of the budget the board passed and is looking forward to how it will benefit the people of Horseheads Next meeting we'll be able to put out goals and objectives for the village and really start putting forth a strategic plan in making sure that every department is bringing up and increasing the services we offer our residents," said Mayor Adams The mayor also emphasized that despite the large increase in the budget He said this means an average household in the Village of Horseheads would only pay an additional $35 in village taxes for the year NY (WENY) -- Two parks in the village of Horseheads are getting a makeover this spring. Brand new playgrounds are coming to Thorne Street Park and Gardner Road Park "At Thorne Street and Gardner Road Parks These are big expenditures that normally we cannot afford to do within our normal operating budget the board and I thought that ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds would be the best expenditure to get these projects going," said Village of Horseheads Mayor the village used over a quarter of a million dollars of ARP money for playground equipment Mayor Adams said this is only the beginning when it comes to utilizing the Village's green spaces "We’re looking at a strategic plan for all of our green space that the Village has to make a comprehensive parks program so that we can be able to facilitate different age groups and make a true park system," said Mayor Adams Mayor Adams said that the community's feedback on what the Village should do has been awesome He said officials have heard about doing different things from dog parks "We just need to work all the green space all of the park facilities together to make sure we know and we’re putting in the investment in the most optimal place," said Mayor Adams they hope to open the playgrounds before Memorial Day Mayor Adams also mentioned that they will add new mulch and a drainage system to the playgrounds "[We're] making sure that we’re not just changing the above-ground part of it but making sure it’s well positioned so we don’t have more rust and decay in our chips and foundation as well," said Mayor Adams Mayor Adams encourages village residents to give their input on potential/future projects and to attend meetings The next board of trustees meeting is happening on Thursday Mayor Adams provided the following total costs associated with the playgrounds Park Pavilion Roof: $52,000Wood chips: $12,011.40Picnic Tables: $7,585.83Park Benches: $4,494.22 Below are 3D renderings of the two future playgrounds Park is the yellow and blue rendition and Thorne St Horseheads has had considerable success on the gridiron in recent seasons but a Section 4 title remains elusive for a program that last reached that objective in 1998 on the tail end of three consecutive championships The Blue Raiders enter this season with designs on beating out fellow Class A sectional foes Binghamton, Union-Endicott and Vestal for the right to represent Section 4 in New York's state tournament. Vestal thwarted Horseheads in last year's sectional final, 40-14 the second time in the last three seasons the Raiders ended up one win shy of the title we want to get over the hump and finally win one," said senior receiver/defensive back Miles Woodhouse a lot of our backfield is back that can make plays in big games." A question mark leading into what has become a standard Week 0 opener for the Blue Raiders is the offensive line "A lot of inexperience up there on the offensive line," head coach Kevin Hillman said "That's an area we've got to really work on during the season and preseason I think running-back wise we've got some guys coming back in (Lucas) Mosher and (Bryce) Thomas We're in good shape with those skill positions with experience I think once they become a cohesive group we have a really good squad here." Senior two-way lineman Robert Peckham provides experience Hillman describes him as "a stud" up front and expects big things from a physical force who had 42 tackles last season he's got to have a monster year," Hillman said ran for 786 yards on 111 carries last season averaging 7.3 yards per carry while running for 232 yards and four touchdowns Cardinale brings senior experience to the QB spot He completed 71 of 120 passes for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns last season described by his coach as "a dynamic player," caught 31 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns last year Griffin Stevens, a rugged senior linebacker/tight end, received honorable mention to the all-state team at linebacker after leading the Raiders with 68 tackles. He's an all-state lacrosse player Others to watch include linebacker Jonah Lamb, a transfer from three-time defending Class D state champion Tioga Central Hillman also expects big things from linebackers Liam Morrissey and Jaxson Burchard along with Twin Tiers Christian Academy transfer Elijah Miller at defensive tackle "I think defensively we’ve got a really good front eight with our linebackers and our D-line," Hillman said "I think we have a really good group of guys there with our experience More: Horseheads baseball standout strikes NIL deal with area Subway restaurant KINGSTON ― As his players headed for the locker room Jim O'Brien hunched over with hands on his knees and exhaled emphatically "I look like I just played," the Warwick coach quipped Saturday afternoon Because he saw a game that his team had led for almost its entirety turn into a nail-biter in the last two minutes — a basketball eon — filled with all the emotion that his mannerisms conveyed immediately afterward but I knew we had it," senior Angelika Quadrino said with a smile O'Brien wasn't their only supporter who got stressed when the lead was trimmed to one But Reese Girardi and Quadrino shined in the waning minutes helping the Wildcats pull out an eventual 40-31 win over Section 4's Horseheads in the Class AA girls basketball regional final Chicken (nugget) dinner: Warwick rallies over Wallkill for Section 9 Class AA title 'Blood jersey': Lourdes 'battled until the end' but falls to Binghamton in regional final teetering on the edge of danger in the postseason before comfortably skipping its way across the cardiac 'Cats are headed to the state semifinals for the first time since winning a state championship in 1982 especially because we've put so much effort into the season," said Girardi who had two 3-pointers and two steals in the fourth quarter Warwick (21-1) will face Section 5's Aquinas Institute in a state semifinal next Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy Rochester-based Aquinas lost in the semifinal last season "It's really exciting," Quadrino said of Warwick which won the Class B state crown 43 years ago "All these teams we're seeing in the playoffs are great so to make it this far for the first time in a long time that says a lot about how our program is developing." Quadrino had five of her nine points in the fourth and Kelsy Larney had three points and four steals but these are very tough kids,” O’Brien said “I've told Reese that if she wasn't a basketball player He was referring to the aggressiveness and aplomb with which she plays Girardi joked that in an alternate universe though she doesn't quite know what her persona would be because the sharpshooter helped apply a figurative Figure 4 and put the squeeze on the Blue Raiders The Wildcats held Horseheads 23 points below its season average utilizing excellent perimeter pressure from the guards with Romig and McKenzie Decker anchoring the paint "We've gotten it done on effort and toughness not because we're making 80 shots," O'Brien said of his team totaling 75 points in its last two contests "They take a lot of pride in defense and have faith in themselves to get stops." The Blue Raiders managed only 12 points in the first half and trailed by nine in the fourth quarter before rallying She missed what would've been the tying free throw as hearts began to flutter and palms perspired Quadrino answered with a three 10 seconds later and Larney came up with a steal on the ensuing possession Girardi added three points on free throws in the waning seconds "I knew somebody had to do something to get the momentum back for us," Quadrino said "The ball ended up in my hands and I had an opportunity." Similar to the plays she and the team made down the stretch of their comeback over Wallkill last week to earn their first Section 9 title since 2022 Jordyn Gross and Samantha Bonnell each had three points for Horseheads (16-6) but I don't think anyone gets used to it," O'Brien said of the late-game dramatics “But what they’ve done is amazing and I’m incredibly proud.” Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4 Horseheads High School boys wrestlers always choose odd when it's time for a coin flip Owen says that endearingly about a team filled with personality Horseheads is also an oddity when it comes to the standard of excellence built over the last several years Nine Horseheads wrestlers qualified for this weekend's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships at MVP Arena in Albany with 215-pounder Jonah Lamb sidelined by injury with the tournament concluding with finals scheduled for a 6:05 p.m Beyond the state qualifiers are all kinds of success stories among the other 34 wrestlers who finished the season The roster ranges from athletes who have wrestled their whole lives to those who were introduced to the sport in high school "They are all succeeding within the program," head coach Brett Owen said A standout part of the team is the encouragement wrestlers provide one another The energy level is palpable each time a Blue Raider steps on the mat "It’s definitely awesome because everybody wants the best out of you and you want the best out of everybody," said senior 285-pounder Seamus Carroll "It definitely pushes you and everybody else around you wrestlers point to the collectively strong mindset and the work everyone has put into the sport Owen has hammered home the importance of embracing the mental demands of the sport "Before big tournaments, we'll all settle down and do some meditation, get our minds in the right place and get ready to wrestle," said senior Lucas Mosher, coming off a football season in which he was third-team all-state in Class A There's a lot of physical and you just have to be mentally prepared Carroll and Mosher will be joined at states by teammates Connor McAllister (101 pounds) Coleton Owen (160) and Hunter Lavigne (190) More: Girls basketball: A dozen girls players to watch in Section 4 tournament This is Owen's seventh season as head coach a longtime coach at Elmira and an NCAA Division III national champion at Cortland State Former Elmira High sectional champion John Robyck is in his third season as an assistant Owen said he and Monks complement each other adding Monks relates well to the wrestlers while bringing a different coaching style "I've only been wrestling for three years and they just help me with everything," Carroll said of the coaches who coached previously at Waverly and the University of Scranton came into Horseheads with a focus on having intense "I think the first couple years that was a little bit harder but a lot of these kids that are on varsity now I started coaching at youth 10 years ago or something," Owen said "That has transpired into them knowing the system from day one and really buying into it." Horseheads has qualified for the state dual-meet tournament every year since it started in 2018 this year to get to the semifinals for the first time in a watershed moment for the program "It was huge getting to that semis match," Mosher said Time in the wrestling room and competition have gone hand-in-hand to produce a special season Horseheads has wrestled around 40 dual meets including tournaments and competition for its B team along with several traditional invitationals Mosher credited the coaches with helping the wrestlers prepare for big meets and said the busy schedule was pivotal in getting the Raiders primed for the postseason Brett Owen pointed to the work many of the wrestlers put in during the offseason as a big part of the team's success Carroll is among those who have gone above and beyond "You definitely put into it what you get out of it," Carroll said You can definitely feel it at the end of the season but I still want to keep on going to get better." More: 'The strongest kid I know.' How Michael Rennells of Horseheads conquered cancer Liam Levantovich and Cael Owen created a creed that was recited each day in practice and has stuck 'We are a family' and you're only as strong as your weakest link," Brett Owen said There is biological family within the wrestling family In addition to having coached sons Cael and Coleton qualified for this year's inaugural girls state championships along with the Horseheads Booster Club and numerous others as contributing to the program's success "It takes a community and the community really supports us," Brett said whose love of wrestling started when his dad took him to the 2019 NCAA Tournament said "it's been quite the experience" wrestling for his dad He added it can be tough at times having your coach in the house with Brett always watching what Coleton is eating and making sure he gets his workouts in While the Raiders celebrate their success on the mat coach Owen said the expectation is to see those who come through the program become the best people possible "This program is making us better humans as individuals and not just as wrestlers," Coleton said "That's the ultimate goal of our coaches." Said Mosher: "This is just like one big family Everyone loves each other here and everyone gets along There's no dull moment when you're in the wrestling room postseason hopes seemed over for the Horseheads boys basketball team shortly after the calendar turned to 2025 Three losses in three games at the Josh Palmer Fund Clarion Classic were followed by a trio of double-digit setbacks against Southern Tier Athletic Conference foes Elmira The only available path to a Section 4 Class AA tournament berth required a .400 overall winning percentage "We were not where we wanted to be and us sticking with each other and playing for each other really got us back to where we wanted to be," Horseheads senior Mason Holloway said "Coach (Jeff) Limoncelli and coach (John) Fesetch Horseheads responded with four straight victories highlighted by triumphs against Elmira and state-ranked Class B foe Dryden The Blue Raiders then bounced back from a gut-wrenching double-overtime loss to Corning by beating Ithaca to secure a playoff spot that seemed out of the question a month earlier More: NYSPHSAA Section 4 boys basketball 2025 tournament pairings and scores Horseheads ended up 7-10 in the regular season (a .412 winning percentage) and is the No The Raiders play at second-seeded Union-Endicott at 6 p.m with the winner facing top-seeded defending champ Binghamton for the title at 6:45 p.m March 9 at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena What looks like the final season coaching basketball for Limoncelli has extended into one of his most rewarding "I’m as proud of this team as I have been of any team in my career," Limoncelli said the ship sinks and all of the sudden you’ve got problems "These kids have high character and they’re just great kids who love to work Every game was a pressure game and they handled it." More: Excellence for Horseheads boys wrestling goes beyond triumphs on the mat Perhaps most notable among the second-half wins was a 65-57 victory over Elmira 10 days after the two-time defending Section 4 champion Express hammered Horseheads by a 73-38 count "That game is what turned us around as a team," Holloway said "We knew we needed something to change and that was the start of the second half of the season Limoncelli was telling us how this is the second half and we need to get things going We came out with a ton of energy and we kept it through the whole game." Horseheads' 2-7 record comes with a qualifier given the Raiders faced a schedule Limoncelli assessed as better than anyone else's in the area 25 for the eight teams that beat Horseheads was 117-42 with all eight at least six games above .500 Horseheads lost twice to both STAC tournament finalists The setbacks in the Palmer tourney came to eventual champion St The second loss to Corning came after Horseheads was in position to win at the end of regulation and overtime A tying shot from beyond half-court by Mekai Daniels to end the first overtime sparked the Hawks' victory said the message during the six-game losing streak was to stay the course and keep believing in themselves Holloway said practices remained intense and the outlook positive "We learned about ourselves a lot as a team going through some tough losses there and that just shaped us into who we are right now," Jack Fesetch said "It was tough obviously in the moment losing all three (at the Palmer tourney) those teams definitely helped make the competition around here feel a little easier for us." The Raiders play a regular rotation of six to seven players with 3-point shooting ace Fesetch and Holloway the team's go-to offensive options John Durr has stepped up his scoring and Miles Woodhouse' ability to go to the basket has provided a boost has turned to zone more often to help alleviate foul trouble He also takes the blame for early struggles "I didn’t coach very well the first part of the season," he said too many sets for those kids trying to get our shooters the basketball instead of letting our kids do what they were comfortable doing and that’s our motion offense "Just go out and play and leave them alone Sometimes as a coach it's difficult to do that." Holloway said it gave Horseheads confidence it could play with anybody in the area Horseheads fell behind defending Section 4 Class A champ Maine-Endwell in a loss to close the regular season before bouncing back to cut the deficit to single digits in the second half "The game is never over to us in our minds," Holloway said "Just being able to fight back and the love that every single guy on this team has for us ... everybody is making everybody better in practice During introductions for the Maine-Endwell game he was recognized by Horseheads for his contributions coaching basketball While Limoncelli said before that contest the decision hadn't been made official "it looks like this is it" as far as coaching hoops He's not sure if the upcoming season will be his last coaching baseball adding he wants to make sure the program is in his good hands Jack Fesetch said it's "been great" playing for Limoncelli and his dad who was previously head coach at Elmira Southside and Corning "They're two of the best coaches this area has ever seen," Jack said "Their ability to stay positive kept us going Sometimes we might have been down on ourselves but they were always there to reassure us and keep us going." Horseheads had gone 26 years without a Section 4 championship football This year's team ended that drought in emphatic fashion rolling to a 31-0 win over Vestal in the Class A final Friday night at Horseheads High School Bryce Thomas carried 19 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Blue Raiders to their first championship since winning three in a row from 1996 to 1998 "It's amazing," Horseheads head coach Kevin Hillman said and all the ups and downs and guys who have played for this program We are a big family and now we did it all not just for ourselves Lucas Mosher added 88 yards and a 6-yard touchdown on 11 carries Horseheads led 21-0 at halftime in beating Vestal for the second time this season The Golden Bears had only 23 yards of offense in the first half of the rematch Horseheads' edge in offense ended up 370-129 for the game We still have another week ahead of us and we are ready." Offensive tackle Robert Peckham has been a key part of Horseheads' prolific offense all season He ended Vestal's first drive with a sack Friday and Hunter Lavigne's sack ended the Bears' second possession I can't even describe what the feeling is right now." Stars of the gameThomas' big rushing day included a 15-yard touchdown to open the scoring and a 75-yarder to close it with 6:48 remaining he works so hard and eventually he’s going to wear you out and go," Hillman said Mosher is like that and two weeks ago (Jaxson) Burchard was the guy Raiders quarterback Dom Cardinale completed four of seven passes for 75 yards and a TD and Jonah Lamb intercepted passes for Horseheads Vestal quarterback Josh Kweller completed 19 of 25 passes for just 98 yards a weapon all season with strong kickoffs and accuracy on extra points contributed a 25-yard field goal to give Horseheads a 24-0 lead late in the third quarter Physical defense led the wayThe top-seeded Raiders were scheduled to play Binghamton in a semifinal last week Mosher said Horseheads took advantage of the additional preparation time and came out fresh "We really preached all week we wanted to be physical," Hillman said "A physical defense and don’t let those guys off the line I thought the kids did a really great job today." Peckham's sack set the tone early in a rematch of the 2023 sectional final Vestal won by a 40-14 score "That was the most special moment ever," he said of the sack More: Pass attack helps Elmira beat Corning for back-to-back Section 4 Class AA football titles Up nextWith a new rotation system being used for state quarterfinals both teams will continue their seasons next weekend Horseheads (9-2) takes on Section 3 champion Whitesboro (11-0) at 8 p.m Vestal (5-6) meets Section 9 champ Cornwall at 6 p.m Cornwall (10-1) rallied for a dramatic 27-26 win over Minisink Valley in their sectional final (WENY) -- The classic fairy tales that audiences know and love will come together on stage as Horseheads High School presents Into the Woods from March 13 to 15.  Cast members Lucie McKenzie and Connor Carpenter says there’s a lot of moving parts to the show “Into the Woods is about the fairy tale characters we all grew up with “They all go into the woods in search of their wishes they discover that getting what you want isn’t always what you hoped for There are a lot of lessons throughout the show.”  who plays one of the show’s more lighthearted roles emphasized the fun energy he and Lucie bring to the production so it’s been a blast working on our scenes together,” he said.  The cast and crew have been preparing since December tackling the complexities of Stephen Sondheim’s score and the intricate moving parts of the production “There are so many elements at play in this show,” Connor noted “It’s one of the biggest challenges we’ve taken on.”  One standout feature of the performance is the inclusion of a puppet representing Milky White “Connor works a lot with Milky White,” Lucie shared “She’s been learning how to move the puppet she even maneuvers two large shoes during the show.”  performances will take place at Horseheads High School on March 13 with an additional matinee on Saturday at 2 p.m Tickets are priced at $15 for adults and $12 for students and senior citizens.  For seven decades, Turk's Produce & Flower Market was a staple of the Horseheads business community ice cream and baked goods at its sprawling facility on South Main Street Third generation owner Ted Ostrander hopes he can build that appeal again at the new home for his business which for years housed Ted's Produce & Flower Market so when he decided he wanted to downsize and relocate the longtime business he didn't have to shop around for a suitable site I can see my house from here so it's very convenient for us," Ostrander said "It's about one quarter of the size but we still have all the same things," he added "We've already had a bunch of former customers in 'Do you think I'm going to pass up these good tomatoes?'" Turk's Produce was first opened by Ostrander's grandfather in the late 1940s as a produce tent on the corner of Route 17 and South Main Street in Horseheads flowers and a wide variety of other products All of the items that made Turk's a big hit will still be available fresh fruits and vegetables," Ostrander said We're waiting on our license from the state and then we'll have more "We are going to expand the building and make it bigger," he added "It's just not going to go full out the way Turk's was." which was the official opening day for the new location signs that identified the property as Ted's were still on display New signs with the Turk's name would be installed soon had no trouble finding the new location Thursday Sheridan said she's a longtime Turk's patron and was happy to see the business resurface "My yard is filled with plants from them," Sheridan said To learn more about Turk's Produce & Flower Market, go to facebook.com/turksturksturks (WENY) -- Sunday is "I Love My Park Day" in New York State and the Village of Horseheads is looking for volunteers to help clean up its parks Linear Park and Maple Grove Cemetery all need sprucing up They're asking volunteers to lend a helping hand from 12 p.m Those interested can volunteer for certain tasks at any park Sullivan Park is looking for volunteers to plant flowers Teal Park volunteers are being asked to prepare the dance floor at the facility as well as general cleanup Linear Park or Maple Grove Cemetery should be willing to do general cleanup work.  If interested, you can sign up for your preferred job and park on the Village of Horseheads' website Check-in for the volunteer work begins at Sullivan Park You are asked to bring rakes and work gloves to most jobs if possible With first place in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference West Division up for grabs Horseheads scored 12 consecutive points to open the fourth quarter on the way to a 59-47 girls basketball triumph over Elmira on Friday at Horseheads Middle School The win gave two-time defending STAC champion Horseheads an 8-1 overall mark and a 5-0 record in STAC play Elmira is ranked 23rd in Class AAA by the New York State Sports Writers Association Horseheads is the 25th-ranked Class AA team A senior and an eighth-grader spearheaded Horseheads' offensive push had 25 points and eight rebounds while playing her typical brand of tenacious defense Eighth-grader Sammie Bonnell had 18 points and nine assists including some key passes during the fourth-quarter run Wolf and Bonnell were a combined 9-for-10 at the foul line in the final quarter Mariah Matias led the Express with 14 points and gave Elmira numerous second-chance opportunities with her rebounding Ashaya Wallace and Alyvia Heath had seven points apiece for Elmira The Express closed the third quarter with an 8-0 run to head into the final eight minutes with a 36-35 lead Horseheads responded with 12 straight points over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to go up 47-36 The surge was started by Emma Kamas' 3-pointer and Bonnell connected on her third 3-pointer of the night Matias' put-back stopped the streak with 4:17 left in the quarter but Wolf nailed a 3-pointer for a 50-38 advantage "The difference between the fourth quarter and the first three is we started knocking down some shots," Horseheads coach Andy Scott said That fourth quarter we started knocking a few down." Defensive differenceScott praised the defensive play of his team singling out Maddie Ribble for her effort against Matias how she played on Matias because she’s giving up like six inches and she grinded it out in there," Scott said Said Scott of the big fourth quarter: "We’ve been in some close games thanks to the Palmer tournament and playing West Genny at the beginning of the year and we’ve got some other good ones on the schedule They hung in there and kept their composure we were able to make some good shots and stretch the lead out a little bit and they were able to knock down the free throws when it counted." Added Scott of Horseheads' strong start to the season: "Happy with the team A lot of the kids have been in these types of situations before In years past we might have folded or got rattled The kids work really hard in practice and they’re a great group to be around you couldn’t ask for anything better than that." Elmira Coach's PerspectiveSaid Express coach A'Don Allen: "We dug a hole early with foul trouble and I think it kind of caught up to us in the fourth quarter We played them even and we just didn’t make enough plays in the fourth quarter We’ve got to get back to work and we’ll fix that." Added Allen on what could be learned from Friday's game We’ve got to be able to match that and we’ve got to be able to match that for an entire game." More: HS Football: See which Section 4 small-school players earned New York all-state honors The teams are scheduled to meet again at 1:45 p.m Elmira is defending Section 4 Class AAA champion and Horseheads is defending sectional titlist in Class AA in addition to coming off a STAC title "The nice thing is we'll see them again in a couple of weeks and hopefully we'll be a little bit better prepared then," Allen said Said Scott: "It will be a great game again Local officials couldn't come up with enough superlatives to describe Monday's news that railcar manufacturer Siemens Mobility has chosen the HOST Terminal industrial park in Horseheads for a new high-speed railcar manufacturing facility Charles Schumer stood in front of a vacant lot at the industrial park Monday afternoon to officially announce Siemens will build a 300,000-square-foot facility in that space to manufacture the American Pioneer 220 trainsets for Brightline West which bills itself as the "only private provider of modern intercity passenger rail service in America." Chemung County and Horseheads officials joined Schumer and leaders from Siemens Brightline West and the International Association of Machinists for the announcement "This is an incredible opportunity for the community," said Mark Margeson chairman of the Chemung County Legislature and the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency "Making the most of this opportunity is our job I guarantee we're going to work very hard to make this a success." What the new railcar facility will mean for the Southern Tier regionIn addition to 300 permanent jobs the decision by Siemens to locate its new high speed railcar manufacturing facility in Horseheads will initially mean plenty of construction jobs and a $60 million investment That sort of commitment will create a huge ripple effect president of the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce it will support our towns," Herrick-McGonigal said "It will all lead to success for Chemung County and the region Deputy Chemung County Executive Jennifer Furman said this project is the result of investments such as a new connector road and other improvements at the industrial park Thanks to Siemens for recognizing the resources we have here in Horseheads," Furman said "Chemung County is thrilled to have you here More: Horseheads lands new Siemens Mobility high-speed rail manufacturing facility, 300 jobs Site preparation work at the HOST Terminal location will get underway immediately and development of the manufacturing facility should itself be fairly high speed Siemens and Brightline chose Horseheads because the site is shovel-ready "It will happen over the next 15 to 18 months "One of the reasons we chose here is we can create facilities fast." Making it all happen will also take a lot of cooperation among various public and private entities who said the village stands ready to assist any way it can "This monumental accomplishment will only be achieved when all levels of government work together," Adams said "Our 3.9-square-mile municipality is committed to being a good host to your facility." What happens in Horseheads over the next few years will reshape the transportation industry nationwide who added all eyes will be on the Southern Tier "The future of high-speed rail will be built right here in upstate New York," he said 1 in the railcar transit ecosystem in the whole country The Horseheads industrial park was established during World War II by the U.S and was used to collect and store military supplies and equipment the facility was converted to an industrial site valued for its miles of rail line the campus has gone by different names — The Holding Point Ohio Logistics, known locally as Southern Tier Logistics, became majority owner of the 182-acre property in January 2022 and began the process of upgrading the facility and attracting new tenants and jobs In August 2023, a new connector road provided a direct link from the HOST Terminal industrial park to Interstate 86 via state Route 13 In March of this year, the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency was awarded a $4 million state grant to help make the site "shovel-ready," including improvements to the existing rail one of the world's largest oilfield service businesses Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray Horseheads ice cream shop to open with weekly car shows America’s newest high-speed rail system will feature trainsets manufactured in the Southern Tier Siemens Mobility has elected to build a massive high-speed rail production center in Horseheads that will create roughly 300 jobs Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Monday A press conference was held at 120 Wygant Rd. in Horseheads with additional details announced The new facility will manufacture the American Pioneer 220 trainsets for Brightline West. The AP 220 trains, the fastest in the U.S., will operate on a high-speed rail line currently under construction connecting Las Vegas and Southern California I am proud to announce this massive 300-job first of its kind manufacturing facility for America is coming to Upstate NY.” The manufacturing facility is planned near the former Holding Point site owned by Southern Tier Logistics since 2021. In March, the Chemung County IDA was awarded a $4 million FAST NY grant to make the site “shovel ready” for development supporting a variety of infrastructure improvements The Siemens manufacturing plant will cover almost 300,000 square feet The facility is expected to create jobs in electro-mechanical assembly industrial production and test engineering The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has already reached a memorandum of understanding with Siemens to represent the employees who will work at the site “This partnership is more than just a moment It’s a new chapter for the future of rail transportation with good union jobs creating lasting economic benefits for generations to come," said IAM International President Brian Bryant who thanked Schumer for "ensuring that skilled IAM members were at the forefront of this project." The AP 220 trains are designed to operate at up to 220 miles per hour The high-speed rail system is expected to cut the travel time from Las Vegas to Southern California down to two hours The seven-car trains will be able to carry up to 450 passengers “Bringing high-speed rail to America is no longer a dream the Biden Administration and Brightline’s leadership we will transform the way Americans travel,” said Marc Buncher “Continuing our more than four-decade legacy of building trains in America the American Pioneer 220s will be American-made in New York by a team of more than 300 skilled team members.” MORE 'Incredible opportunity': Railcar maker coming to Horseheads with $60 million investment. See timeline, local reaction Siemens Mobility said production at the new Horseheads facility is expected to start in 2026 Brightline’s federal funding included “Buy America” requirements aimed at boosting U.S The company requested a waiver to construct the first two AP220 trains in Germany while building out the U.S AP220 trainsets are expected to be delivered ahead of service beginning in 2028, in time for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics Brightline West named Siemens Mobility its preferred bidder in May, edging out Alstom, which also would have produced the trains in the Southern Tier at the company's Hornell manufacturing hub Schumer then pushed for Siemens build out a production facility in the Southern Tier highlighting a local workforce with extensive experience in the transportation industry Hornell and Elmira have rich rail manufacturing traditions A network of smaller suppliers has also sprung up over the years “Upstate New York is unmatched in rail car manufacturing capabilities with a deep proud history pioneering the rail industry and a community that is excited to get to work building America’s future,” said Schumer “Siemens Mobility is an excellent addition to the outstanding manufacturers already in this region and I am thrilled they heeded my call to come to New York and will join the railcar manufacturing ecosystem right here in the Southern Tier "All eyes are on this major step in the modernization of America’s infrastructure and the Southern Tier will be at the forefront!” you can find Horseheads High School senior Megan Wolf excelling in athletics The current winter season has Wolf spearheading the Blue Raiders' bid for a third consecutive Southern Tier Athletic Conference girls basketball title and back-to-back Section 4 Class AA championships. Wolf, a 10th-team Class AA all-state pick in 2023-24 is scoring 17.1 points per game for the 13-4 Raiders Wolf was a third-team Class AA all-state pitcher/outfielder last season when she batted .405 with 10 extra-base hits and struck out 123 batters in 81 2/3 innings Summers have been filled playing for Lou Bishop's Impact Gold Wolf, 18, comes off a fall in which she was a STAC West all-division defender after helping the Raiders to the first Section 4 girls soccer title in program history Horseheads lost out to Vestal on penalty kicks that determined which team advanced to the state tournament Wolf is a defensive force in hoops who has been tasked with the toughest assignment on that end all four varsity seasons "Since her freshman year she stood out just because she has that hunger that passion to play basketball," Horseheads coach Andy Scott said "She doesn’t have any fear and she does what you ask Where some kids might be a little tentative and unsure of themselves she will go out and do exactly what we want her to do." has committed to play Division I softball an hour away at Binghamton University is a sophomore softball player at Division I Le Moyne College Both parents were three-sport high school standouts Mike Wolf was inducted into the Horseheads High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 was the the Elmira Kiwanis Club Metro Female Athlete of the Year in 1993 Question: What drew you to Binghamton University?Answer: The recruiting process is a stressful process Alli Richmond went there and I’ve got a family connection with her Just being able to watch her play and the culture and atmosphere that Binghamton has is something I was really looking forward to when it came time to making the decision for myself The coaches gave me the opportunity to play there and it felt like the right fit I felt like I was home when I was there on my visit I'm really looking forward to playing for them A: It’s cool to have a sister go through the process before you but she’s definitely been helpful learning how to manage and hearing about their travel schedules and managing classes Q: Are you hoping to see your sister's team on the schedule?A: I’m looking forward to it They’ve played each other the past couple of years as Le Moyne transitions to DI Q: What has made softball such a big part of your life?A: I think just starting so young I played I feel like every sport imaginable when I was younger I created a close group of girl friends that just made it fun and I enjoyed it it taught me a lot of life lessons that you wouldn’t think about sport teaching you A: I’m very competitive with whatever I do I like to have the ball in my hand when I’m on the mound I started pitching because I loved being in control I think you get that a lot with all of the sports I’m playing – being in control and being able to make an impact I feel like I can help my team set the tone when I have the ball in my hands or I’m dribbling the ball or I’m doing whatever on the basketball court Being in those situations I feel like I can help my team the most because I have that will to want to win It gets heated when we play any sort of game or competition Q: What stands out about Horseheads' girls basketball program?A: The culture a lot of effort into making us successful Q: How much did it mean helping the soccer team make history?A: It’s cool to say you’re part of a history-making team I think we all wanted it more than we had in years past had that will to want to win and make history I think coach set the tone in the beginning of the year that this is very much possible and this is what we should strive to do but it’s still cool to know we’re sectional champs and we’re the first ones to ever do it Our family will sit at home and watch people we’ve played against all high school seasons It’s always on the TV to watch girls you played against in high school and it’s cool to see where they ended up To be part of that next year is going to be really cool for me