Latest news with #ElmiraCollege
Mint
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Mark Twain was a literary celebrity with a moral compass
Mark Twain. By Ron Chernow. Penguin Press; 1,200 pages; $45. Allen Lane; £40 THE OCTAGONAL study overlooks the green of Elmira College in upstate New York. In it, Mark Twain wrote 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", along with umpteen other stories, articles and speeches. Twain spent his most productive summers on his wife's family's farm in Elmira, writing by day and reading his work to his wife and children on the porch in the evening. The unusual shape notwithstanding, the study is small, austere and unremarkable—three words that are in every way the opposite of Twain's life. In fact, argues Ron Chernow in a titanic new biography, Twain was 'the largest literary personality that America has produced". He is the first literary figure to receive the Chernow treatment: in the past the Pulitzer-prizewinning biographer has focused on tycoons (John D. Rockefeller), presidents (George Washington) and treasury secretaries (Alexander Hamilton, a book which, improbably, inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical). Mr Chernow argues that Twain 'fairly invented our celebrity culture". It is true that Twain's biting wit, along with his oratorical and self-promotional skills, made him a star, as beloved by the crowds who packed into halls to watch him speak as by presidents and the literati. But that is not why generations of American children read him in school, nor why he still deserves to be read today. What he really invented was a way of being American in the world and on the page: bold, irreverent and unpretentious. Twain was the laureate of America's unruly adolescence. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30th 1835, Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri. His father was anxious, stern and, as Mr Chernow notes, 'forbiddingly humourless"; his mother was pious and quick-witted. Like Abraham Lincoln, Twain was a product of the American frontier. What he lacked in formal education he made up for in ambition. Hannibal sits on the banks of the Mississippi river, which, in the pre-railroad days, was perhaps America's most important commercial artery. The river gave the author his name: the cry 'mark twain" from a boatman meant that the river was of safely navigable depth. To him the river represented liberty and a connection to the wider world. In his most famous novel, 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", Huck (the narrator) and Jim (his enslaved companion) were free and relatively equal on the water, but harassed by the law and a host of unsavoury characters on land. Twain's upbringing put him in close contact with black Americans. The Missouri of Twain's youth was a slave state. His father owned and rented people. His mother took a dim view of abolitionism. Yet as a boy Twain enjoyed listening to people telling stories in the 'negro quarter" of his uncle's farm. He became an ardent opponent not just of slavery, but of racial discrimination in almost any form. In his writings he railed against the vile bigotry common in his day and supported women's suffrage long before it was popular. William Dean Howells, Twain's editor at the Atlantic, called him 'the most desouthernised southerner I ever met. No man more perfectly sensed and more entirely abhorred slavery." That abhorrence comes through clearly in 'Huckleberry Finn", from which Ernest Hemingway claimed 'all modern American literature comes". Twain quipped in a preface to the novel that 'Persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot." Both moral and plot are evident in the book. In its celebration of vernacular speech, sympathy with the underdog and lack of pretence, the book created a uniquely American style of fiction. Jim was Twain's most radical creation. Readers today might be put off by his stereotypical dialect, superstition and devotion to Huck, but he was perhaps the first nuanced black character written by a white novelist. Jim is thoughtful and decent, possessed of all the compassion that Huck's own father, an abusive drunkard, never provided, Mr Chernow argues. Once a mainstay of school curricula, in recent years 'Huckleberry Finn" has fallen out of favour. The book is 'banned from most American secondary schools", Mr Chernow writes, 'and its repetitive use of the n-word has cast a shadow over Twain's reputation." But readers who see past the use of that ugly word (common in Twain's time) will find a work that—in its panoply of cruel southern whites blind to Jim's intellect and manifest virtues—shows how bigotry not only harms its victims, but also deforms the people who spout it. Huck yes Mr Chernow devotes curiously little space to the novel. Instead, his biography spends a great deal of its 1,200 pages on topics such as the young Twain's hair-care habits, his opinion on street cleaning in the city of Buffalo and his disappointments later in life. By around page 700 even the most devoted Twainiac may wish the book had a more vigorous editor. Still, Mr Chernow's doorstopper is worth reading for its portrait of an author sure of himself and his gifts, even as he toiled as a steamboat pilot or printer's devil, and its insight into the frenetic, violent, optimistic country that made him. For more on the latest books, films, TV shows, albums and controversies, sign up to Plot Twist, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2025 Memorial Day ceremonies and parades in the Twin Tiers
(WETM) – Municipalities across the Twin Tiers have announced ceremonies and parades that will be held to honor fallen service members on Monday, May 26. A full list of which municipalities will be holding ceremonies/parades for Memorial Day 2025, along with start times for each, can be found below. Elmira The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. on Park Place at Elmira College, continue north on College Ave, west onto Roe Ave, north on Davis Street and end at Woodlawn National Cemetery with a ceremony to follow. Horseheads The parade will start at 2 p.m. at Horseheads High School, continue east on Sayre Street, north on South Main Street and end at the Horseheads American Legion. Elmira Heights The parade will start at 11 a.m. on Oakwood Avenue at West Eighth Street, turn east down West 13th Street, turn north on Prescott Avenue and end at the Elmira Heights American Legion. Corning A ceremony will be held at the Crystal City VFW Post 524 at 3 p.m. Painted Post The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Painted Post Fire Department with a ceremony at the fire department to follow. Avoca The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Haines Air Strip with a ceremony at Gazebo Park to follow. Savona The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Campbell-Savona Elementary School bus loop, continue onto Route 226 (East Lamoka) to Route 415 (Main Street), then turn onto Center Street, continue to Church Street and end at Village Hall with a ceremony to follow. Addison The parade will start at Wombaugh Park, continue down Maple Street and end at the Addison American Legion Post 730. Hammondsport A wreath placing will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Veterans Honor Roll Memorial in the Town Square and will be followed with a small parade to the cemetery to continue the ceremony. Montour Falls A ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. at She-Qua-Ga Falls Park. In case of rain, the service will be held at the Montour Falls Fire Station. Waverly The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Waverly VFW, continue down Broad Street to Park Ave and end at Muldoon Gardens with a ceremony to follow. Wellsboro The parade will start at The Green at 10:30 a.m. A ceremony will take place at Wellsboro Cemetery at 11 a.m. Mansfield A ceremony will be held at Mansfield Veteran Park at 11 a.m. In case of rain, the service will be held at the Mansfield Fire Hall. Blossburg A ceremony will be held on Main Street at 11:30 a.m. In case of rain, the service will be held at the Victoria Theater. Knoxville A ceremony will be held at the Knoxville Cemetery at 2 p.m. Millerton The parade will begin at 11 a.m. with a ceremony at Houser Park to follow. Westfield The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Electri-Cord Manufacturing and will end at Krusen Cemetery with a ceremony to follow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed school budgets for 2025-26 school year in the Southern Tier
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) — New Yorkers will go to the polls on Tuesday to vote in favor of or against their local school budgets, appoint new board members, and vote for any other propositions raised by the school districts. Similar to last year, districts in the Southern Tier have proposed increases and decreases to their budgets, along with increases and decreases to the tax rate. Five school districts in the Southern Tier will require a supermajority to pass, meaning a 60% majority is needed. The districts needing a supermajority are Horseheads, Bradford, Corning, Prattsburgh, and Waverly. A list of all the schools in our area can be found below with the proposed budgets, tax rate increases/decreases, and board seats up for election. Graduates walk in Elmira College's 167th Commencement Ceremony School District Proposed Budget Tax Rate Increase Board Seats Voting Hours Elmira School District $155,344,907 -6.44% Seven running for four seats 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Elmira Heights $29,978,969 2% Zero running for one seat 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Horseheads $93,884,722 3.03% Seven running for three seats 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. It must be noted that due to the late passing of the New York State Budget in April, additional foundation aid was received by the district. This additional aid of $364,119 is not included in the current budget, but narrows the gap between the Governor's initial budget proposal and the official state-approved funding for Horseheads, the district said. As a result, Superintendent Douglas announced he would use the late funding to reduce the taxes for the community once the school budget is passed. This reduction would reduce the estimated full-value tax rate increase for property and business owners. The current rate estimated the district at $.48 per $1,000 assessed home value. With the new funding, that rate would drop to $.36 per $1,000 assessed full value. The district said this move would help ease the burden on Horseheads residents. School District Proposed Budget Tax Rate Increase Board Seats Voting Hours Odessa-Montour $22,562,566 4% Three running for two seats Noon to 8 p.m. Watkins Glen $31,433,950 1.76% Four running for three seats Noon to 8 p.m. Steuben County Proposed Budget Tax Rate Increase Board Seats Voting Hours Addison $36,880,787 0% Two running for one seat Noon to 8:30 p.m. Arkport $15,732,523 -1.15% Two running for one seat 11 a.m. to 8 a.m. Avoca $14,562,895 2.98% One running for one seat Noon to 8 p.m. Bath $50,861,699 2.15% Four running for two seats Noon to 8 p.m. Bradford $10,286,439 5.85% One running for two seats Noon to 8 p.m. Campbell-Savona $27,287,344 2% Five running for two seats Noon to 8 p.m. Canisteo-Greenwood $30,160,712 1.92% Six running for three seats Noon to 8 p.m. Corning $146,804,840 1.65% Four running for three seats 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hammonsdport $16,801,058 1.56% Two running for one seat Noon to 8 p.m. Hornell $44,978,293 1.24% One running for one seat Noon to 9 p.m. Jasper-Troupsburg $15,290,981 .25% Two running for one seat Noon to 8 p.m. Prattsburgh $12,157,375 11.66% One running for one seat Noon to 8 p.m. Wayland-Cohocton $38,061,723 3.08% Two running for one seat 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. School District Proposed Budget Tax Rate Increase Board Seats Voting Houts Spencer-Van Etten $29,070,645 1.30% Two running for two seats Noon to 8 p.m. Waverly $47,422,566 3.90% Two running for two seats Noon to 8 p.m. Voting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20. 18 News will update this article as votes come in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Graduates walk in Elmira College's 167th Commencement Ceremony
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — Graduates walked in Elmira College's 167th Commencement Ceremony with, around 162 students fulfilling their academic chapters, on Sunday, May 18. Students walked across Park Place in Elmira through an audience of between 400 and 500 people, exchanging waves with people as they approached the front. Among the students were 142 undergraduates and 20 others at the graduate level. A majority of them will be receiving Bachelor's degrees in Science. Some of the majors the students studied in consisted of nursing, biology, psychology, business administration, and others. Nursing major Ashton Craver said he plans to work as a medical surgical nurse with cancer patients at United Health Services (UHS) in Binghamton. Elmira College holds 2024 graduation ceremony 'Follow your heart and use your support systems,' Craver said. 'Friends, family, faculty, they're the reason I got through college. It wasn't a solo effort one bit, so you can rely on others on top of your own drive, and that'll get you through things.' Jazmine Elliott, who earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Minor in Fashion Business Generalist, will be working at Macy's Corporate in New York City in merchandising. 'Try as many things as you can, because that's how you meet the best people, that's how you do the best experiences, and just be willing to pull yourself out there,' Elliott said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
18 Sports Plays of the Week – 3/25
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – It's time for the newest edition of the 18 Sports Plays of the Week! (Video Courtesy: @UVASoftball, NFHS Network, @FAUBaseball) The 18 Sports team showcases the top plays from the past week in the Twin Tiers. Top honors this week include a long range shot on the court, a highlight reel goal on the ice, and 3 home runs on the diamond. Hornell's Jordyn Dyring opens this week's list with a huge three point shot, in the NYSPHSAA Class B Girls Basketball Championship game. Advertisement On the ice, Elmira College's Erika Goleniak netted a sweet goal in the NCAA D-III Tournament Quarterfinals, against UW-River Falls. On the softball diamond, Elmira grad Sarah Coon blasted a game-tying, 2-run home run for the University of Virginia. The clutch hit helped the Cavaliers past Cal, in a 6-5 comeback win. In college baseball, former Elmira Pioneer John Schroeder crushed a massive home run, for his 2nd of the game for Florida Atlantic University. The 2 home run night for Schroeder came in an in-state rivalry game against Miami. In Division III, Connor Stone unleashed a moonshot, 2-run home run for Elmira College, in a 7-6 victory over Penn College. You can watch the 18 Sports Plays of the Week on Tuesday's on WETM 18 News. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM -
