It's April 1983. The month begins with "April Fuels Day" and the  federal excise tax on gas increasing five cents per gallon.

 Actress Gloria Swanson, 84, dies in New York City.

 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches with Commander Paul Weitz, Pilot Karol J. Bobko, and Mission Specialists Donald Peterson and F. Story Musgrave. The first space walk of the shuttle program is performed by Musgrave and Peterson.

 Tokyo Disneyland opens in Japan. 

 At the 55th Academy Awards, the movie Gandhi wins Best Picture, with its star Ben Kingsley winning Best Actor. Meryl Streep wins Best Actress. Mickey Rooney is given an honorary Oscar.

 Marie Osmond, 23, and her husband, Stephen Craig, have their first child.

 In Britain, a one pound coin is introduced to replace the one pound paper note.

 The Democrats select San Francisco as the site for their 1984 Convention.

 Harold Washington is sworn in as Chicago's first African American Mayor.

 Russian-born choreographer George Balanchine, 79, dies in New York. 

 Blues musician Muddy Waters, 68, dies at his home in Illinois.

 In Owego, a section of North Avenue's sidewalk and parking spaces are roped off after bricks fall from a burned-out building.

 The Grand Union grocery store at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue in Owego closes after 20 years in business.

 The state agrees that the CFJ pool in Johnson City can be torn down.
 About 60,000 people attend the two-day Marathon Maple Festival despite the rain.

 Holocaust Day is honored at SUNY-Binghamton with a candlelight procession.

 The Owego-Apalachin School Board approves the 1983-84 budget of $11,055,310.

 The Grateful Dead perform for a sell-out crowd at the Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena.

 Rick Nelson appears in Binghamton. Tickets are $8.50 and $9.50.

 A spring snowstorm dumps five inches of snow on the Southern Tier during the third week of April.

 The Tri-Cities Opera perform Jeremiah, Tickets are $8, $11, and $15.

 The annual Stepping on the Coat ceremony is held by SUNY-Binghamton students to welcome spring.

 Movies playing in local theaters include Gandhi, Flashdance, High Road to China, Monty Python and the Meaning of Life, The Outsiders,  Stuck on You, Bad Boys, 48 Hours, Lone Wolf McQuade, and Max Dugan Returns.

 Best selling books include The Little Drummer Girl by John LeCarre, The Delta Star by Joseph Wambaugh, and The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour.

 Top tunes include Beat It by Michael Jackson, Come on Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners, Jeopardy by Greg Kihn, Mr. Roboto by Styx, and Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.

 And basic cable - which includes ten channels - costs $8.50 a month.