Dryden Fiber looks back on another year of service

As Dryden Fiber gets close to concluding another year of service, Executive Director David Makar took time to reflect on 2025 for the internet provider.

The town of Dryden has worked since 2019 to launch Dryden Fiber. The service officially became available in November 2022 and was made public in the spring of last year.

“It’s mostly been about building the network,” Makar said in the past. “We built the network in 2022 and 2023, but we really accelerated that in densely populated areas of the town of Dryden.”

In a letter to the community, Makar stated that 2025 was “a year of transformational change” for Dryden Fiber.

“We doubled in customer count, hired a new engineering firm, redesigned the entire network, changed the way we manage and procure this large municipally operated infrastructure project, and reset our goals around tried and proven methods of building fiber optic infrastructure,” Makar added.

As Dryden Fiber’s construction and installation teams work to bring the “best fiber optic internet company” in New York state, Makar provided numbers for the future.

“We’re expanding to new neighborhoods and will continue through 2026 with a goal to reach 100% of the town of Dryden before the end of 2026,” Makar added. “This puts us ahead by nearly five years from the pace we found ourselves in just a year ago.”

Makar thanked the more than 500 families and businesses who have chosen Dryden Fiber as their provider.

“For the hundreds of people across Dryden who have reached out requesting service and updates on construction: we are grateful for your interest and engagement in the project,” Makar said. “Your constant and consistent inquiries and service requests both motivate the team and lead to massive action. Thank you for your patience as we work to get this 40-year investment right.”

Makar also praised existing customers for spreading the word about Dryden Fiber to friends, neighbors and colleagues.

“If you are in the ‘green zone,’ where we currently have fiber in front of your house or on the border of your property, please sign up and schedule your installation today,” Makar said. “Check the map and request service at DrydenFiber.com. Our prices are simple and very competitive, our speeds are the fastest around, and our customer service is top notch. We can fulfill most green zone installation requests in less than a week.”

“If your home or business is not yet in the green zone, thank you for trusting us with your time so we can get this right,” Makar added. “We do ask that you submit a request for service so we can best manage installations going forward. Once service is available to your address, our team will reach out to you to get you on the schedule. You only have to request service one time.”

For questions or suggestions, go to DrydenFiber.com or email Makar at dave@drydenfiber.com.

“It’s been growing every month, with more demand and more people signing up,” Makar said in the past. “We’re moving fast to fill this network and install service and have customers live as quickly as we can.”

In brief:

Village of Freeville schedules public hearing for Jan. 6 meeting

The Village of Freeville Board of Trustees has scheduled a public hearing for its meeting on Jan. 6 next year.

The hearing will present the following proposals for 2026:

• A local law providing for the repair, removal or demolition of unsafe buildings and structures.
• A local law establishing a local government code enforcement program.
• An amendment to the Village of Freeville Land Use and Development Code (Section 346).
• A local law to revoke the Dayton Planned Unit Development and amend the zoning code accordingly.
• An amendment to the Village of Freeville Land Use and Development Code (Sections 307 and 415).

Full copies of each drafted law are available at freevilleny.org and at the village office at 5 Factory St. from 8 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Silent book club at the library on Dec. 22

Southworth Library in Dryden will have its silent book club gathering at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 22.

“We’ll spend some time chatting and getting snacks, and give a preview of the give away book and then you will be free to grab a cozy seat and read in a room with other readers, no conversation required,” according to a description on the library’s website.

The book for the month of December is “The Queue” by Alexandra Heminsley.

The club allows people to choose a free book from the library’s pile to read and take home. Participants can also bring a book to the gathering.

Registration open for Shooting Stars program

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department has opened registration for the Shooting Stars program.

Shooting Stars is a co-ed, noncompetitive, in-house basketball program that aims to teach kids about basketball basics through games and skill-building activities. Program participants will learn defensive skills, and to dribble, shoot, pass and play basketball.

The program is for children in kindergarten through second grade. It will run on Saturdays between Jan. 10 and Feb. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Dryden High School.

The cost for the program is $30. To register, go to drydenrec.recdesk.com. Registration is open until Dec. 21.