If you’re looking for someone with fresh ideas, great insights, and the ability to jump in and make things happen, you need not look further than to new Rotary member Natalie Montefinese. With her creative and generous spirit, her enthusiasm and optimism, she will surely brighten your day. As a new member, Natalie has immediately contributed so much. She volunteers her time with the youth exchange program, the Riverview Manor project, the club website, and much more!
 
Natalie Montefinese
 
A bookworm for as long as she can remember, Natalie and her 5 siblings grew up in the Chicago suburbs. Following graduation from DePaul University with a degree in English Literature, she joined her future husband in his antique reproduction business. They worked as a team in the antique and book business for 25 years.
 
After her husband passed away, Natalie moved to Owego in an attempt to rebuild her life. She tried some things for the first time that she knows she'll never do again, like answering unemployment claims calls for NYS Department of Labor during the pandemic. She also tried some new things that she still occasionally does enjoy, like being a substitute teacher and an election poll worker.
 
With the constant encouragement of her good friend, fellow antique books expert and long time Rotarian John Spencer, Natalie has been able to pursue in Owego what she loves most, working in the antique trade and creating art. She opened her antique and collectibles store, Front Street Vintage, in 2021. The store speaks to Natalie’s passion for books, antiques, and ephemera.
 
Having lived here longer than she's lived anywhere in over 30 years, Owego has been a pleasant surprise to Natalie. By participating in Rotary events,
Natalie says, “I’ve made some wonderful new friends in Rotary and I’ve been inspired by the commitment to service that I’ve seen. Becoming a part of Rotary feels like a great next step on my journey, and I am happy to be a part of it.”