LAOH News
Division One President's Message
Welcome 2026. Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Congratulations to our sister, Kathy Blodgett on being the recipient of the Immaculata Award given by the Diocese of Syracuse. She is a member of St. Paul’s Church. A well-deserved honor! Kathy, thank you for all do for the church and the community.
Congratulations to our incoming officers for the 2026-2027 term. All are welcome to attend the Installation of officers for AOH, both LAOH divisions and LAOH Juniors which will take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the AOH Hall at 1 pm.
December was a busy month with members truly living our motto. Our all-division Christmas party was an enjoyable evening. Thank you to Pauline LeStrange and her traveling keyboard and song leaders Sue Messina, Nancy Hyatt and Maggie Haines for leading the sing-along. Thank you to all the bakers, plate assemblers and those who supported our holiday cookie fundraiser. A special thank you for all who supported Wreaths Across America by purchasing wreaths or participating in placing wreaths at cemeteries in Conklin. A huge thank you for all who supported our December mission of providing hats, gloves, mittens, headbands, socks, hand and toe warmers, ChapStick, personal care items, etc., to fill stockings and gift bags for those at the Warming Center. Fifty recipients will each receive a gift bag and a Christmas stocking.
Dues for 2026 are now being collected and are $30. You may pay your dues at our monthly meeting or mail a check for $30 made out to LAOH Division 1, your membership card and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Eileen Zemek, 1960 Hawleyton Road, Binghamton NY 13903.
Our next meeting will be Friday, January 9th at 7 pm. We will say a decade of the Rosary at 6:45 pm.
Thank you for making my terms as President rewarding and inspiring. I am always amazed at the amount of generosity shown in support of our fundraisers or when collecting items for our charitable causes. Also impressive is how we show support or attendance at various events or fundraisers sponsored by the AOH, LAOH Div 2, LAOH Juniors or the Corporation.
In closing, kindness doesn’t cost a thing, yet It’s the richest gift you can give.
Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,
Barb
607-232-6367
LAOH News
Division Two President's Message
Congratulations to the recently installed AOH, LAOH 1 and 2 and Junior Division officers. It was great seeing everyone at the first meeting of the year and look forward to all the upcoming events we have scheduled. A warm welcome to Winnie Esworthy, we are happy to have you and look forward to your participation.
We received some nice thank you notes from our end-of-the-year charitable contributions. Thank you to Debbie Burke for chairing the LAOH 2 Scholarship in honor of Mary Curry, an updated flyer with instructions to apply is forthcoming.
February and March are always busy, I hope you can support some, if not all of these activities…see enclosed flyers for more information.
- Saturday, February 21 at 5pm – Irish Heritage Dinner Dance (sponsored by the LAOH County Board and Hibernian Parade Committee), at Atrio Banquet Hall in Endwell, $45 per person, choice of beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian. Tickets are going fast, so call me for tickets (607.727.2262). The parade officials will be introduced – Grand Marshal Joseph Mihalko, Maid of Erin Mikayla Walsh, Official Police Parade Starter Inv. John Eggleston and the Brian Murphy Community Service Award winner will be announced.
- Saturday, February 28 from 10-3pm is Irish Day at St. Thomas, if you’d like to volunteer to work at our table, make crafts or cookies, or have crafts to donate to our table, please contact Barbara Button (607.759.8946). If you have a raffle basket to donate or are interested in working at the raffle table, contact Darlene Comeno (607.759.2999). Food, entertainment and vendors will make this for an enjoyable day, pipers, dancers and Old Friends!
- And to start the weekend off, Friday, March 6 – BC Pipers at the AOH.
- Saturday, March 7 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade Activities – We will participate at the 11:30am mass for our deceased members at St. Mary’s, march in the Parade at 1:30, and music at the AOH Hall with John Tobias from 2-4pm and 6-9pm.
Cookie Luke is accepting payment for dues ($30), please send a check with your card and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the AOH Hall, 148 Main St., Bing., NY 13905 to her attention or better yet, pay at the February meeting, Wednesday, February 18 at 7pm.
Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters and their families and for those serving in the military and all who need our prayers.
Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,
- Susan -
607.727.2262 or sconnors@binghamton.edu
LAOH County Board
Michele Talcott, President
I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. Installation of New Officers for the LAOH and Juniors will take place on January 4, 2026 @ 1:00 pm at the AOH Hall. Please join us in congratulating them.
There are some events coming up in February:
--St. Brigid Mass on Sunday February 1, 2026 @ 9:00 am at St. Paul’s Church.
--Irish Days at St. Thomas February 28, 2026
I hope everyone can come and support these events. Our next County Board meeting will be held on March 3, 2026 @ 5:30 pm.
In our Motto of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity-
Michele Talcott, President 607-349-8736
Junior Division News
Our Junior members continue to inspire us with their unique creative talents, generosity, and joyful spirit. They truly put their special touch on everything they do!
At their December meeting, the girls welcomed new member Haley. They wrapped Christmas gifts for an adopted family. They also nominated their 2026 Officers. The meeting concluded with festive fun as the girls enjoyed making wreaths and exchanging gifts.
Congratulations to the nominated 2026 Officers:
President: Mary Grace Keenan
Vice President: Elizabeth Coyle
Secretary: Quinn Coyle
Treasurer: Mya McManus
Financial Secretary: Layla Blodgett
Historian: Ellody Kozel
Missions & Charities: Kathleen Keenan
Catholic Action: Elizabeth Lewis
Mistress at Arms: Mikayla Walsh
Sentinel: Haley Wagner
Immediate Past President: Mikayla Walsh
The installation of new officers will take place on January 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the AOH.
We are especially proud of Mikayla, who was selected as the 2026 Maid of Erin. Congratulations on this wonderful honor!
Our next meeting will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 1:00 p.m. at the hall on Main Street.
Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!We warmly welcome young ladies who are Irish by birth, descent, or adoption, between the ages of five and eighteen, and who are practicing Catholics, to apply for membership. To apply, please contact your Division President or pick up an application at the Hall.