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Our Summer Harvest Festival and Gravel Grinder is August 23rd! We hope to see you there. 💙 🧡 💚

2025 Ribbon Cutting

Hello BVA board members and supporters:


Today BVA had the honor of joining staff and board members from Sidney Federal Credit Union (SFCU), the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, and other community members to celebrate the official opening of the. SFCU Morris branch. This was a great moment in BVA history that should be celebrated, especially amidst so much social-political division in our country. 


Please join me in honoring the BVA board and community members who volunteered on the Save Our Bank Committee. I was so inspired at those meetings, still new to the community, listening and learning from everyone engaged in the process of preventing a banking desert in the Butternut Valley. What a model for community engagement and activism focused on benefitting everyone in the Valley!


In my professional life advocating for public policy change, it could take a decade or more to see a bill go from a need to introduction, debate, committee votes, floor votes, and signature by the governor or president. By contrast, this process was remarkably quick and successful. BVA should stand tall and proud on this achievement, which will also provide a great example of what this organization can achieve to our new executive director. 


Congratulations everyone!


Jason Cianciotti


Join us on August 23rd for our annual Summer Harvest Festival & Gravel Grinder! This free community event will feature hot air balloon rides, face painting, a bounce house, animals, live music, food, and more fun. 💙 🧡 💚

This is a family friendly event with attractions and activities for kids of all ages!  It's at the old Walter Farm at 4021 State Highway 51 in Garrattsville, now the home of Butternuts Beer & Ale.  The Gravel Grinder kicks off at 11:00 and ends when the last rider comes back in.  The Harvest Festival runs from 1:00 to 6:00.

The Gravel Grinder has a long course for cycling fanatics and a short course for enthusiasts.  For more info, go here: Gravel Grinder Info & Registration

The first 300 attendees to pre-register for the Harvest Festival can pick up their free meal tickets at the registration tent: Reserve your spot today!

Vendors, as wells as not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities, that want table space at the event can sign up here: Reserve your table today!


We need volunteers to make this event successful.  Volunteers get special perks!  Anyone who wants to volunteer for all or part of the day can sign up here: Sign up to volunteer today!



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Our Spring 2025 Newsletter is available now at the link below.

June 2025 BVA Newsletter


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2025 Riparian Buffer Stewards Date

Click here to register


or email

GlasserA@tiogacountyny.gov


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A press release from the Sidney Federal Credit Union with news about opening an office in Morris, NY.



Photos from the 2024 Trail of Art can be viewed at the link below.

Images from the Trail


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Recordings of the meeting held at the Morris Firehouse on May 23, 2024 are available at the link below.


Youtube Recording of Meeting

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BVA task force rescues banking services for Morris and the Butternut Valley


After six months of research, organizing, strategizing and negotiating, the Butternut Valley Alliance has announced a partnership with Sidney Federal Credit Union.  SFCU will now take the necessary measures to open a full-service branch in Morris. This development comes as a result of proactive steps taken by the “Save Our Bank” task force, guided by BVA board members and including several concerned residents.


SFCU will now apply to the New York State Department of Financial Services for designation as a Bank Development District.  This designation will make the branch opening financially feasible and will also allow municipalities to bank with the credit union.


While the BDD process can take 6 to 12 months, SFCU plans to begin offering limited services in the very near future by appointing a business development representative to assist businesses and residents in opening accounts. Opening a temporary field office is a possibility.


To reestablish banking services based in the Village of Morris, the Save Our Bank task force sent a statement of need to more than 15 financial institutions to explore their interest in expanding operations to the Butternut Valley. Requests for proposals were sent to the three institutions that responded favorably.

“In the end, it came down to a choice between two credit unions both of whom were able to meet the needs of Butternut Valley residents, businesses and municipalities," said Ed Lentz, BVA chair and member of the task force. "It was a tough choice, but we ultimately decided that, on balance, and taking into account the local name recognition of SFCU, partnering with SFCU was the best decision for our community at this time."


“We look forward to serving the residents of the Butternut Valley and welcoming them to experience of how SFCU is making banking easier,” said SFCU CEO Jim Reynolds, adding that SFCU is currently one of the fastest growing credit unions in New York, with a membership of more than 70,000 customers and assets totaling more than $980 million. 


Headquartered in Sidney, NY, SFCU is a full-service financial institution. SFCU membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Madison, Montgomery, Onondaga, Otsego and Schoharie counties and portions of Broome, Oneida and Herkimer counties.  More information on SFCU can be found at www.sfcuonline.org.



Teresa Winchester

 465 Chicken Farm Road

 Otego, NY 13825

 land line - 607.783.2064


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Recent Articles and News at the BVA

Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events


If you couldn't make it to the meeting

you can still watch it on Youtube at the link below.

Mills III: Leatherstockings and More.




donation to BVA makes the Butternut Valley watershed an even better place to live, work and play. 

 

LIVE ~  In 2022 donations supported two creek restoration projects. We teamed up with Upper Susquehanna Coalition to plant over 200 trees on a Wetland Trust property along the Butternut. We also hauled out agricultural plastic that has clogged one of our creeks since the flood of 2021. To date we have removed over 8000 pounds of material. These efforts help to increase permanent open space, assist flood mitigation, and promote water quality ~ making the Butternut Valley a great place to live. 

 

WORK ~ Our programs, like the New Lisbon Gravel Grinder attract visitors from around the state to explore our landscapes and enjoy local shops, restaurants and accommodations. We hope our local economy gains from these small-scale placemaking endeavors.

 

PLAY ~ On the Trail of Art engaged student, professional and amateur artists to exhibit together in our annual “gallery in the forest”. It was a weekend of community and fun in Basswood Pond State Forest.


It’s a fact of life that our small organization depends on members and friends for financial support, small and large. become a member and/or donate today! Thanks!

  

BVA is a 501(c)(3) federal tax exempt, not-for-profit corporation – your donation is tax deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code



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BVA and Morris Historical Association hosted a talk -

Mills II, How They Work


By Tom Washbon


Was held on Wednesday, October 19, 2023 at 7 pm

at the Morris Fire House


Attendance was in person or by Zoom

"Terrific presentation. Technical details, visual, audio surprisingly good. Tom so well prepared. Will tune in again."

- Chris Sadlocha


Watch a recording of the program here:

Mills II - YouTube recording

Watch a recording of the first Mills presentation at this link Mills I YouTube recording


(Image at left: Bailey’s Mills, Bailey Road, Morris, NY, circa 1900)

OUR MISSION
The Butternut Valley Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to encourage the Butternut Creek watershed to become an even better place to live, work, and play. Our activities connect communities, protect the environment, and promote the arts.

OUR VISION
Leading the Butternut Creek watershed toward a sustainable future.
CONTACT
PO Box 43
Morris, NY  13808