2025 Year in Review: What’s Under the Hood—and What’s Ahead—at Newark Valley Community Connection

As we close out 2025, we’re taking a moment to reflect on just how much has happened at Newark Valley Community Connection, Inc., but first-here are a few things coming up you won't want to miss:

Upcoming Events: January 2026

We’re beginning 2026 with opportunities to gather and reconnect: Don't miss out.

Saturday, January 3, 2026 - Noon Brunch and 2:00 PM Valley Harmony in Concert with "Lessons & Carols"

A local favorite returns for an afternoon of beautiful music and shared spirit. This concert continues our tradition of using music and food to connect with one another.

Starting January 13, 2026: 10:00 AM Gentle Yoga & Tea – Pilot Program

This new offering is designed to support relaxation, mobility, and connection in a calm, welcoming environment. The pilot will help us assess interest as we expand wellness programming in the year ahead. Lindsey, a certified yoga instructor, will be guiding us live and online from Houston. Enjoy some relaxed movement and conversation along with your favorite tea or coffee afterwards. This is a drop-in donation based event, so there is no need for reservations. We will have a few mats available to borrow, but this will also be chair yoga adaptable.

Be sure to check out our web site for more that is happening including our regular Monday Lunch, the beginning of a Sewing / Craft Group, Book Club and Open Paint night as well as on January 24th: Our Sterling Silver Jewelry Workshop.

2025 Year in Review: What’s Under the Hood—and What’s Ahead—at Newark Valley Community Connection

So much has happened at Newark Valley Community Connection—not only in the programs and events you see, but in the countless improvements that make those moments possible.

From community meals and concerts to classes, celebrations, and quiet conversations over coffee, our buildings have been busy. And behind every welcoming event is a tremendous amount of work—much of it unseen—powered by volunteers, board members, donors, and community partners who believe deeply in the importance of shared spaces in rural communities.

What’s Under the Hood: Two Years of Transformation

Over the past two years, Newark Valley Community Connection has invested heavily in improving, maintaining, and future-proofing our buildings and grounds. These improvements ensure our space is safe, accessible, comfortable, and ready to serve our community for decades to come.

Here’s what’s been accomplished:

• A brand-new roof installation

• New sidewalks and front steps for safer access

• Renovated bathrooms

• A new dance floor in the Event Center/Old Church and new flooring in the Community Hall

• Mini-split heating and cooling systems in the Community Hall

• Stone Foundation repair

• New shelving and storage systems in the kitchen and storage areas

• Tree and stump removal and new landscaping

• Flood Recovery from July 2025 Floods

• A new driveway and parking lot, in the process of being installed throughout the next few months

Each project—large and small—represents a commitment to stewardship: caring for what has been entrusted to us so it remains a vibrant, usable, and welcoming place for everyone.

Looking Back: A Year of Belonging, Creativity, and Care

In 2025, NVCC built on the strong foundation laid in previous year and expanded both the depth and diversity of what we offer our community. Throughout the year, our buildings were alive with:

• Community meals and Monday lunches that brought neighbors together across generations

• Concerts, Line Dancing and music that filled the old event space with fun and joy

• Art nights, Book Club, Paint-and-Sip events, Craft Fairs, and Sterling Silver hands-on workshops

• Children’s activities- Bike Fest, Haunted Halls, Holiday Magic celebrations, Mother's Day Brunch, family events, and Chicken BBQ's

• Fundraisers and special events that strengthened both our finances and our friendships

Volunteer-Powered, Board-Guided

Each event—large or small—was all powered by volunteers who generously gave their time, creativity, and care. As an all-volunteer organization, NVCC exists because people show up: to cook, decorate, plan, welcome, clean up, and dream together.

We are deeply grateful to all of our volunteers who enable us to offer a variety of events,and would like to mention and thank our behind the scenes volunteer board members for their leadership, persistence, and vision: Nick Cromer, Sue Hills, Chris Aingworth, Molly Denis, Jim Marzen, Marsha Sierra, and Cathy Aingworth Young, along with past board member Kathy Preston, who helped guide us through an important season of growth. 2026 will bring the addition of Chelci Allis Stebner to the board, as Molly's term comes to an end. Thank you Molly!

From organizing workdays to managing budgets, planning events, and dreaming about what’s next, their steady commitment keeps this organization moving forward. We are additionally very grateful for the guidance from our Mountain Bike & Trails Subcommittee: Matt Tomazin, Angela Walter, Jeff Darrow, Todd Cawley, Seth Bruce and Ellen Giblin, and are excited for what the future holds for us in this important community endeavor!

With Gratitude to Our Donors and Community Partners

None of this work happens without financial support. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the organizations and partners who have invested in Newark Valley Community Connection and in the well-being of our rural community:

• The Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation

• The Floyd Hooker Foundation

• Tioga State Bank

• Tioga County Senior Citizens Foundation

• Owego Rotary Club

• Tioga County Rural Ministry

• Tioga Downs Regional Community Foundation

• And our many individual donors and local businesses, whose generosity—at every level—makes ongoing care and improvement possible

Your support has strengthened our foundation—literally and figuratively—and ensured this space remains open, active, and inclusive.

Looking Ahead: A Big Vision for the Next Five Years

While we’re proud of what we’ve built together, we’re equally excited about what’s ahead.

Over the next five years, Newark Valley Community Connection aims to move from sustaining our space to expanding our impact.

In the coming years, Newark Valley Community Connection is working toward an ambitious long-term vision that includes:

• Expanded capital improvements, including additional roof replacement, furnace replacement and more to maintain and enhance our buildings

• Improved outdoor spaces that invite gathering and connection

• Development of walking and biking trails, supporting recreation, environmental resilience, and community health.

  

  
  

• Continued growth of programs that serve all ages across Tioga County, especially targeting northern Tioga County, and surrounding areas

Thank You for Being Part of This Story-Help Us Continue the Journey

Whether you volunteered an hour, attended an event, made a donation, shared a post, or simply stopped by—you are part of what makes Newark Valley Community Connection work.

There’s a lot happening under the hood. And together, we’re building something strong, welcoming, and lasting. We welcome you to stop in, see the changes, and imagine what’s still to come, and

we encourage you to continue this journey with us in 2026 and beyond.

Connection happens here, along with economic viability—and there’s more to do. As our vision grows, so does our need for individual as well as corporate and business partners who believe in rural community vitality and are willing to invest in long-term impact. Newark Valley Community Connection is built on the belief that strong communities don’t happen by accident—they are created through care, participation, and shared investment.

As we look ahead to expanded programming, capital improvements, and long-term projects like the development of community bike and walking trails, we invite those who are able to consider supporting this work.

We will be launching a multi-layered community fundraising effort that will allow individuals, families, small businesses, and major corporate partners to support NVCC at a level that feels meaningful to them. More detailed information will soon be available.

• Individual donations will help keep events affordable and our doors open

• Business and corporate sponsorships will play a vital role in bringing larger community projects to life over the next five years

• Volunteers and advocates help us extend our reach and strengthen our impact

Every contribution—financial or otherwise—helps create a welcoming space where connection, creativity, and belonging can continue to grow in Newark Valley and the surrounding area.

If you feel aligned with this mission, we would love to talk with you about how to get involved. Stop in to chat at one of our events, give us a call at 607-308-1503 or email us at newarkvalleycc@gmail.com