Greene County Bancorp, Inc. celebrates 120 years with student art show
The Daily Mail
Jan. 24, 2009

CAIRO — Dozens of students from Cairo Elementary School and their families were guests of honor at an artists reception at the Bank of Greene County branch in Cairo Friday evening.

More than 80 students at the school have pieces on display at the bank on Route 23, art teacher Claire Camingo said.

She said that four pieces were selected to be shown from each class at the school.

Artists at the reception posed proudly for photographs by their paintings of lizards and self-portraits in between snacking on pastries and greeting their friends and teachers.

Camingo escorted fifth grade artists Sophie Estep and Kyle Scully to the Legislative Office Building in Albany on Wednesday for the New York State Teachers Association 19th Annual Legislative Student Art Exhibition. Estep, Scully and their families met with State Sen. James L. Seward (R-Oneonta) and Assemblyman Peter D. Lopez (R, C, I-Schoharie).

“We have so many talented students and dedicated teachers throughout the district, and it is important we make sure programs like this continue,” Seward said in a press release regarding the event.

In Cairo, bank patrons can enjoy the artwork for a couple more weeks, said branch manager Kathleen Proper.

Proper said the reception was timed to coincide with the bank’s 120th anniversary.

On Thursday, the actual anniversary, Donald Gibson, president and chief executive officer of Greene County Bancorp Inc., J. Bruce Whittaker, director and former Bancorp president and Martin Smith, president of the bank’s board of directors opened trading on Wall Street by ringing the NASDAQ bell.

Proper said that the bank likes to celebrate different a community business or establishment every month and the school art show was a nice fit.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity for the students to show their work in the community,” Proper said.