🌱 How much more could Elmira homeowners pay under the 2026 budget?

Morning Elmira! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How much more could Elmira homeowners pay under the 2026 budget?
• What led to a 25-to-life sentence for this Elmira teenager?
• Why Elmira’s gas prices are now the lowest in New York

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Elmira? Post it to Elmira photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 29 and low of 23 degrees.
• Wednesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, temps: high: 43, low: 22.
• Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 43 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Proposed Elmira budget has more spending, 12% tax increase. Here's why (stargazette.com) — Elmira property owners are facing a proposed 12% property tax increase in the city’s 2026 budget, driven by rising health insurance, wages, pensions, and changes with Chemung County agreements. City leaders say the hike is needed to maintain essential services and stabilize Elmira’s finances, with budget workshops this week and a public hearing and final vote coming in January.
   

• Elmira Man Sentenced for 2024 Murder at Birthday Party in Southport (wfmz.com) — An Elmira man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 21-year-old at a Southport birthday party in November 2024. Prosecutors said he showed no remorse for the close-range killing, and his concurrent sentences will be followed by five years of post-release supervision.
   

• Watertown gas prices drop three cents from last week (informnny.com) — Elmira drivers are currently enjoying the lowest average gas price in New York at $2.95 per gallon, even better than Watertown’s recent drop to $3.13. With statewide and national prices also easing and diesel costs slipping, the holiday travel season should be a bit more affordable for Southern Tier motorists watching the pump.
   

📸 Around Elmira

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Elmira

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 23

• PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Elmira, NY
  Elmira Works Coworking Space, 3 Clemens Square, Elmira
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Coburn Choral and Instrumental Concert
  Coburn Elementary
  5:30 pm
• Hendy Instrumental Music Winter Concert
  Ernie Davis Academy
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Traffic Coordinating Board Meeting
  Elmira, NY Calendar Elmira, NY 14901
  9:15 am

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day
  Elmira, NY Calendar

📣 Elmira Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• RFB-2844 HOT MIX ASPHALT (FOB)
  Chemung County, NY Calendar
  2:00 pm
• West Elmira- Creative Coloring Club
  West Elmira Library (Chemung County Library District) , 1231 W Water St , Elmira
  3:00 pm
• Beecher 6th Grade Winter Concert
  Beecher Elementary
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Winter Wiggles
  Tanglewood Nature Center , 443 Coleman Ave , Elmira
  10:00 am
• West Elmira - Knit and Crochet Club
  West Elmira Library (Chemung County Library District) , 1231 W Water St , Elmira
  3:30 pm
• Coburn Choral and Instrumental Concert
  Coburn Elementary
  5:30 pm
• Hendy Instrumental Music Winter Concert
  Ernie Davis Academy
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• How I Read (And Why None of It Is Normal)
  By Jim Pfiffer/Illustrated by Filomena Jack When it’s cold outside, I open books inside. I love to read. Always have. Winter just gives me better… (Nextdoor West Elmira Point)
• How I Read (And Why None of It Is Normal)
  By Jim Pfiffer/Illustrated by Filomena Jack When it’s cold outside, I open books inside. I love to read. Always have. Winter just gives me better… (Nextdoor West Elmira Point)

• Arby's posted a job opening for Team Member in Elmira. Apply here.
• Unifi posted a job opening for Airport Ramp Agent in Elmira. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elmira here.

🗞 Nearby News

Horseheads

• Snow doubt about it: Winter is coming, and we are here for you (stargazette.com)
• Horseheads benefit raises money for Food Bank of Southern Tier (mytwintiers.com)

Ok Elmira! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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