It's February 1973.

The first 142 Prisoners Of War are released from prison camps in North and South Vietnam.

At Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, they dine on steak, chicken, and chocolate sundaes (not necessarily in that order!). On their first full day of freedom, they enjoy an all-American breakfast with bacon, eggs, and pancakes. After breakfast, are meetings with doctors for medical tests, meetings with tailors for new uniforms, and briefings on their financial affairs. The first returning prisoner to touch US mainland is Captain Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr., of the Navy. The man held longest in captivity among them is Cmdr. Raymond A. Vohden, whose plane was downed in North Vietnam on April 3, 1965.

The Pentagon issues a language guide for returning POWs to familiarize them with current American slang. Entries in the guide include "acid," "hippy," "Jesus Freak," "lifestyle," "Gay Lib," and "Women's Lib."

Wally Cox, best known as "Mr. Peepers" dies.

President Nixon names L. Patrick Gray as director of the FBI.

Frank Costello dies at age 82. In 1957, the competition between Costello and Vito Genovese to become the Mafia's boss of bosses triggered the Mafia meeting in Apalachin.

Richard Petty wins the Daytona 500 in Florida.

The US and China announce they will establish liaison offices in Peking and Washington.

North Vietnam says it will not release any more American POWs until the US accepts more responsibility for enforcing the cease-fire and Communist representatives in South Vietnam are given better treatment.

At Wounded Knee, South Dakota, over 200 members of the American Indian Movement occupy a trading post and church at the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation. They hold at least 10 people hostage and demand that the Senate start a full-scale inquiry into government treatment of Indians in the United States.

The Owego-Apalachin Board of Education rejects the use of seat belts on school buses stating they are "ineffective" and "would do more harm than good."

In the Village of Owego, First City Bank's plan to build a new one-story building includes demolishing not only their current bank built around 1910 but also an adjacent building which was built in 1876. Although the bank building holds little sentimental or architectural value, the two-story pink brick building next to the bank is considered a local architectural landmark by village residents. It has two sets of three arched windows, and lattice-like brickwork intact on both stories.

State agencies begin moving into the new State Office Building in Binghamton.

Village of Owego Board of Trustees approves the development of low-rent, 88-unit housing project for elderly persons at the eastern end of Prospect Street. The project will not be built unless state officials approve rent subsidies.

Owego-Apalachin school officials propose closing the Central Elementary School on Main Street. The 220 students who attend the school - most of whom walk to school - would be bused to either Washing Gladden or North Elementary School near OFA. Parents and teachers protest the closing through petitions and telephone campaigns. Students parade in front of the school with signs saying "Don't Bus Us" and "Save Our School."

Federal funds will not be available this year to share the expenses of restoring and renovating the Tioga County Courthouse.

Michael Slovak is named outstanding teenage young man of Apalachin by the Apalachin Jaycees.

The old high school in Owego is is officially named "The Tioga County Office Building."

There is much concern about the condition of Owego's riverfront district which suffers from empty storefronts and deterioration. Local officials seek to have the area named a national historic district. A Binghamton architect envisions the riverfront transformed into a series of rowhouse-type specialty shops and high-rent apartments with balconies overlooking the river.

Public hearings are held concerning the plan to close Central Elementary School. The school board postpones making a decision on its closing.

The W T Grant store in Westover's River Plaza is the first store in the Binghamton area to test a new computerized cash register which uses a computer terminal instead of a traditional register.

The Ti-Ahwaga Players present "Caught in the Villain's Web" at the Elks Club in Owego.

James Franz is named outstanding teenage young man by the Owego Jaycees.

Broome County is swamped with requests for tickets to the Miss World-USA Beauty Contest to be held in September at the Veteran's Memorial Arena which is still under construction. Tickets for the pageant, which will be hosted by Bob Hope, cost $6, $8, and $10.

The Owego-Apalachin Board of Education approves separate-but-equal sex education courses next year.

The Grand Way store opens at Vestal Plaza, which bills itself as "Binghamton's largest and most complete department store complex." Among the 40 businesses at the Vestal Plaza are Resnicks, Scotch 'n' Sirloin, Stylish Women, Kent Drugs, The Fabric Tree, Erie Imports, Khyber Pass, Page's Books, Wine Art, and American Handicrafts.

Wednesday night TV shows include "The Paul Lynde Show," "Adam 12," "Medical Center," "Owen Marshall," "Search," "Cannon," and "Sonny and Cher."

Movies playing at local theaters include "Carry On Henry VIII," "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean," "Mary, Queen of Scots," "Up the Sand Box" with Barbra Streisand, and "Shamus" starring Burt Reynolds.

Top tunes include Dueling Banjos from the movie Deliverance, Do It Again by Steely Dan, Last Song by Edward Bear, Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend by Lobo, and Rocky Mountain High by John Denver.

Need a new car? A 1973 Pinto costs $1,999; a 1973 Toyota Corolla sells for $2,098, and a 1973 Mustang is yours for just $2,949.