best burger I have ever had! sat outside with an outstanding view. the service was kind and attentive I wish i could come back every night. must get a side of the house made ranch :) read more

Great service. Very nice back patio lots of seating inside and out. Food was delicious. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

Set up is interesting. Get to pick your seat. Food is great. Wonderful experience. Thank you. read more

Has a great outdoor area overlooking the lake. Staff was super friendly and someone greeting as you walk in explaining the menu, how to order and choose a table. A small bar and has mixed drinks and mostly local wines. The have Scott's Library of wine so ask what it is; it is from the cellar that the deceased owner had collected and the wine changes after every bottle. We had the pulled pork and the barbecue beef . Booth were very good and the French fries are fresh cut and crispy. Really enjoyed our dinner and the staff. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

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Some of the best food I've had even after traveling the country for years. I will be going back probably every time I'm in the Seneca Lake region! read more

You find a table and then go to counter to order food or drinks Orange maple Irish splash$15. Very nice. Expected very sweet but not so. He used little bit of dark maple syrup, Mushrooms ryesotto $17 Cornmeal crusted catfish $17 à la carte Overall a nice meal at a nice location. read more

This restaurant has a very cozy vibe and incredibly friendly staff. The patio of the restaurant has vineyards growing over the ceiling and it creates an overall calming vibe. For food, I had their catfish burger and poutine. The poutine and fries were great. The catfish burger was standard. Overall a great experience and we will return soon. read more

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It's a shame that they aren't honest with themselves and they delete all the bad reviews. It's like eating at Chick-Fillet, with the same menu and service. Limited specials, limited service. And they expect you to tip for basically serving yourself. I wanted to take home the leftovers and was handed a container in the lobby. Filled it myself there, on the lobby counter. Just a poor concept. This used to be a go-to place for good food. Now it's just a tourist trap including a large area devoted to tee-shirts and other garbage to buy. I will never, ever, go again. read more

Amazing food. Covered back porch opens to beautiful scenery. Fantastic service, everyone was so nice and helpful. We went on homemade pasta night. There was also a jazz musician playing out back. Very nice during dinner - not too loud. We got the pesto pasta, cheeseburger, bbq brisket, fish sandwich, and two kids meals - bbq pulled pork and Mac and cheese. Everyone loved their meals. Cornbread is great too. read more

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This place was fabulous in my opinion. The combination of food options, atmosphere, and the view were stellar. I always thought this place was going to be super expensive, but it was very reasonable. You order at the counter and then seat yourself. They have a lot of vegetarian options. They also have pasta night, I think once a week, where they make their own pasta and they pair it with $25 wine night. If memory serves me correctly, pasta night is Thursday. When we are in the area, we will definitely be stopping here from now on and I highly suggest you do as well. read more

Stonecat Cafe - View from the deck - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

The special cucumber soup was too sweet. The catfish was crispy outside yet light and moist inside. The pulled pork was slightly on the sweet side but we wolfed down as soon as it arrived. After 6+ hours driving and an hour of wine tasting, the dinner was perfect without being too heavy. The strawberry shortcake is a little on the dry side and lacked strawberry flavors. I won't mind coming back to try more on their menu. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Strawberry Shortcake - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

The food was amazing! I am vegan and I was amazed with their tofu. I loved the vegetable wrap with tofu. It was incredible. The food took a little while, but it was definitely worth it. read more

So disappointing. Five stars for the setting and view, four stars for the food...and TWO for the service. I used to live in Ithaca, and wanted to go back to Stonecat on my recent visit. The setting is just lovely, with inviting outdoor spaces and nice indoor dining rooms. It was a bit chilly the evening my friend and I went, so we opted to sit inside. The food was tasty and on-point: my friend had the catfish, and I had Stonecat's version of a corndog (with chicken sausage). But the service was a huge disappointment, particularly for an establishment at this price point. First, you order at the counter. Welllll, okay, I want to be flexible...then we waited an eternity for our food, and watched the woman who brought it out walk all around inside and outside before finally finding our table as we tried to flag her down. Then I needed another utensil, and waited a long time again before we could flag down another staffer. Another wait for dessert, with no one checking in on us although the place was not crowded. The final insult was going back up to the counter to pay and having the cashier ask breezily, "What number did you guys have?" Gee, my bad, I hadn't committed that to memory! I've had better service in almost every cheap diner I've eaten in. When we had arrived, the woman who greeted us told us with great pride that the staff bought the restaurant and it became a cooperative, and "we took everything about the restaurant business we didn't like and threw it out." (This happened after the former owner, who was apparently quite beloved in the local community, had died.) Apparently they 'threw out' a service orientation. Despite having diners order and pay at the counter, and the inattentive service, I felt like they wanted a medal for being so progressive and groovy. Hey, I like cooperatives! I also like graciousness. My tip reflected the work done by the servers relative to the amount of service I had shouldered myself. read more

So while at the lake we chose it for local focus - spent $150 for what felt like nothing. Catfish sandwich- breading dry and bread with special sauce hardly on there. Mixed cocktails - biggest price for smallest glass I have ever seen. Special for night of local asparagus soup was just baby food asparagus with no seasonings - like lawn in a bowl. Business model is not ok- Super disappointing that from time to getting up to order (which you are asked to tip for before even seeing a server) and meals coming out was over an hour. However the fancy local couples next to us got drinks, apps and dinner with a special checkup multiple time from the limiter staff before we even saw one of ours. Our grown kids regressed to toddlers while waiting for food which after almost an hour came our on toddler size plates for what we spent. Super do NOT recommend. read more

Stopping in for dinner at Stonecat Cafe after an extended absence is simply proof of the adages that "You can never go home again" and that "Comparison is the root of unhappiness." Originally entering Stonecat's door at the midpoint of the building, you were greeted by the host who then guided you to your table and you were then taken care of by an attentive waitstaff who (for the most part) had impeccable service. Menu was delicious and varied based on seasonal ingredient availabilities. Unfortunately, the experience has changed within the past few years (our previous visit was in early late 2020, just as the CoronaVirus was raging) and then we moved away. Our next visit was 5 years later, a week ago, for Juneteenth 2025. Oh, how things have changed. I'm glad that they survived the pandemic, and even seem to be thriving. However I can simultaneously be sad over what was pared away. With the Host and waitstaff, StoneCat Cafe felt upscale and someplace that you'd bring a date or partner for a special occasion. Now, with no host, no waitstaff, ordering food at the counter, a much more casual feel, along with a significant increase in the noise levels, Stonecat has become a great casual "have-a-beer-and-yell-over-the-noise-of-the-live-music-in-too-small-a-space-while-the-married-couple-two-tables-over-argues-over-who-liked-whatever-winery-better" kind of place. It's loud. You'll now enter on the south side of the building, get handed a menu by the cashier, and go find yourself a table. If they're particularly busy, the cashier may escort you to a table. You'll go over the menu, with no assistance from any waitstaff, and then you'll need to go back up to the cashier to place any and all orders. Drink and appetizers? Sure! Do you want to have things come out in random order? They can do that! But, if you want to have your food arrive in a semblance of "courses" that's a bit more tricky and isn't guaranteed; the cashier will "try" to make it happen for you. The menu has been greatly pared down, streamlined; many of the old Cult-Classic faves are still here (Cornmeal Crusted Catfish, the BBQ Pulled Pork, The Mezze Platter, the Maple Juniper sausage) but gone are the Whisky-cured Gravlox, the Grilled Chicken, and the NY Strip Steak and others. We ordered two non-alcoholic drinks with a bowl of soup and the maple-juniper sausage, as openers. We were given a number placard to place on our table, for the three runners to try to find when they delivered from the kitchen. Unfortunately, our non-alcoholic drinks took 25 minutes to arrive, while our appetizers (ten minutes after that) did two full laps of the dining room because the runner kept missing our table number. I finally needed to pick up the number and hold it at her eye level. Someone brought a carafe of water to the table, which was nice of them. But no glasses to drink from. At the 1 hour after ordering mark, our entrees appeared, and did a pre-victory lap around the dining room. Maybe to just show off to other patrons how good the food looked? The quality of the food is never in doubt. The cornmeal-crusted catfish was steaming hot, the tender meat flakey and moist. The casarecce (pasta night special) was perfectly done and the pork ragu was uniquely spiced and very, very good. The Beans'n'Greens were smokey with a hint of sweetness from the hominy, and the dill coleslaw was nice (if a bit bland after all the bold flavors of the other items). We decided against dessert, as we'd already paid at the cashier stand for our meal, and we didn't feel like going through the hassle again. I'm glad that Stonecat is still in business, I'm very glad that it's surviving and even, seemingly, thriving. Unfortunately, the quality of the experience, for me, was diminished enough that we will not be returning. Another frustration was the automatic selection of a 15% gratuity for service as we cashed out. What service? We didn't get glasses for our water carafe, we had to order our food ourselves. The food runners bypassed us each time our food came out. Change is the only constant. I really, truly do wish Stonecat best of luck! read more

The price was asking for the best meal on the lake and I think it was our worst meal of our entire week. Do not get the burger or chicken. I cannot speak for the rest of the menu but 0/2 is tough to come back from. No flavor on either meal. Longer than average wait on a quiet night. read more

An enjoyable evening, sitting on the deck, listening to live music, drinking cold beers and chowing down. We ordered from the "Market Fare" (à la carte) section of the menu and all was satisfying. --Local Pasture Raised Beef Barbeque, smoked, pulled and marinated in a Korean style barbeque sauce. Large tasty portion. --House Made Fried Falafel, really good flavor combo, not greasy at all --Beans & Greens, local black beans, black eyed peas, hominy and smoked tomato juice with braised local greens. Another great choice. --Purple Coconut Sticky Rice, perfect side dish Their system of ordering up front and then having the food delivered to the table worked perfectly. Staff was friendly and accomodating to anything we needed. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Really tasty falafel - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

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What a great little hidden gem! The folks working there were all so nice & welcoming. They explained the specials, seating options, etc. The background music was nice, they've got a great deck with a pretty view. We tried a couple of the bottled cream sodas, they were delicious. Our meals were very good; the fries were so yummy! If there was anything we didn't care for, it would've been the buns on the burgers/ pulled pork. They were a little too dense. Great flavor though! We had a great experience & will definitely come back! read more

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The food is good. No problem there. However, you basically fend for yourself for everything else. You order at the counter and take a number back to the table. There is no wait staff. Just people clearing plates and running and dropping food. And so you wait. And hope. And wait some more. It took almost an hour to get our food and it was good. Very good. But nobody checked on us. Heaven forbid something was wrong we would have had to flag down some rando if we could have even made eye contact. Did I want more to drink? Maybe. They will never know. It's basically the same experience as Chipotle but they want a tip. I bag my own groceries at the supermarket. I scan my own clothes at Target. Now I'm my own waiter. No thanks. read more

It's out of the way and certainly nondescript, but don't be fooled, this place is all that. Just check the parking lot and you'll see how much the yocals like this place. Order at the reception counter and they will deliver to your table, inside, outside, or barside. Organic and sustainable ingredients are their mantra. My mantra is YUM. My companion had the grilled chicken leg. Scoff if you like but it was terrific, easily the best leg either of us have ever tasted...and the cornbread crumble and snow peas were just as great. I passed on the corn dog with homemade sausage only because I feared carb overload alongside the poutine and veggie wrap with smoked maple tamari tofu (my first ever tofu). The poutine was just okay while the fries themselves were terrific, as was the wrap. But the star of the night was the blueberry pecan cornbread pudding. Simply put, it's the best bread pudding I've ever had. Not dunked or soaked in anything, the cornbread is allowed to stand on its own complemented with a dollop of blueberry compote and some pecans and some whipped cream. That dessert alone is worth the drive. In fact this place deserves a shot on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives for the corn dog, grilled chicken leg, and cornbread pudding. Hey Guy, turn that Camaro towards Hector NY! So don't judge this book by the cover, instead come take a look and get the cornbread pudding. Highly recommended. read more

Food and services are great! We ate there twice in one week. Each of four of us ordered different dishes and they were all great... it's farm to table food read more

Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you, this place cares about what they do. We were greeted by the super helpful and enthusiastic staff who explained how the place works. You order at the desk, find and seat and they bring it out to you. The inside seating is perfectly serviceable but we were fortunate to be there on a late summer evening with a terrific view of the valley. I'd be happy with the view and a beer but the food was great. It was pasta night so we had one of those selections which was certainly above average. However the catfish is the star. Flaky and well cooked but no fishy taste. We had the combo with pulled pork which again was very good but next time catfish all the way. They have a full bar with some decent drafts and lots local wines to try. Not sure when we'll be that way again but very glad our lodging suggested it. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Catfish combo. - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

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Fantastic food. Quick and friendly service. Lovely atmosphere. No air conditioner so it's a little warm. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Korean beef sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

My wife and I came here for dinner. The food was excellent. "Stonecat was doing farm to table before it became cool" is what the owner of the house we rented said. The setup is nice and simple. Grab a table that's open, look over the menu, order from the counter, took your number, and wait for the food to be brought to you. It eliminates the need for waiters. Everyone was just a glorified bus person. When our dinner was about half-eaten, I went back and ordered dessert. It came out within 10 mins. Our bill was $80 after tip. Very reasonable for all organic, local, house made food with enough to take home. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Front to back: House made sausages, garlic mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

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Beautiful view and great wait staff! Great for a glass of wine and appetizer. Beet tart and field green salad was delicious. However the main course missed the mark and the margaritas were very watered down. The chicken was good, the pulled pork was ok but could have used more flavor and the "risotto" was like a cold porridge. Our 2 friends who ordered that immediately did not feel well. For the cost of the food my expectations were higher than what was delivered. However, I would try again if I was just getting a light appetizer and glass of wine. The views and outdoor seating were beautiful. read more

Stonecat Cafe - View outdoor from vine covered patio. Beautiful! - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

Little gem of a restaurant on Seneca Lake. Great food and of course wine! Super friendly staff, cozy patio in the back. We'll be back! read more

Stonecat Cafe - Peach cobbler with whipped cream - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

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Excellent food in a cozy comfortable environment. Place your order before you get a table. Select your table and a server (or servers) will see that you are well taken care of and not in need of anything! Guitar musician plays softly in the background. All in all, great place with excellent food and atmosphere! read more

I really wanted to love this place. I mean let's face it, these days its a special treat to eat out at a restaurant. Overall, they made me feel safe, which is an important aspect these days. The service was kind and the views outstanding. While the menu was creative, the food fell short as did the execution of some of the items. I have to say, the next time I am in the area, I dont think Ill return. SO the skinny on the food. The menu SOUNDED good, but the flavors fell flat. And it wasn't just me. When the others at my table request salt, honey, pepper, etc for their meals, you know its an issue. We all splurged and ordered the specials (about 30+ for each) so you hope that it would be extra good, but nope. The salmon was tasteless and the duck bland. How does that even happen! We also ordered a pricey side of foraged mushrooms and it was so tiny (it came in one of those things you serve a side of ketchup in). We also had the warm brownie with ice cream, but the brownie was cold and the ice cream had ice crystals in it (they explained that because of COVID staffing structure they couldnt warm brownie... strange). Best parts were the cocktails, yum! , and our service was quite pleasant. We loved the view and the ambiance of the patio. Really well done and a bit magical. We also had an issue with reservations. I called ahead of time and requested an outdoor seat. They said no problem, just to call about 30 mins before we get there to remind them. I did that and then they said that they couldnt accommodate but could fit us inside. When I said no thank you we would eat somewhere else, she said call back 5 mins before your reservation and Ill let you know if I can make it happen. While I so appreciated the young woman efforts, I just wanted them to be honest. I call and they say she has a table for us, that they would be done in 15 mins. So we arrive in that 15 mins, thinking we are good to go. NOPE. We waited, standing outside for 40 mins before we were seated. While the young woman was apologetic, nothing from the server etc. A cocktail on the house or something would have been a nice gesture honestly. Anyways, I am not wowed. I thank them for the ambiance and polite service. That is all. read more

Love this place!! Great food and drinks. The outdoor patio is fantastic for sunset dinners. We always make sure to bring guests here for that sunset ambiance. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

It is a beautiful little restaurant! The views were fabulous! Our food was fresh, local and most of all delicious! The staff was terrific and super friendly! The cocktail I had was a lime Ricky margarita with home strawberry syrup! I must say one of the best I have had!! Our appetizer was called Olivlada, which was kalamata olives puréed with olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs, served with a variety of fresh breads, fresh greens and feta cheese! For lunch my husband had falafel wrap with fresh made chips! Soooo good! I had the Reuben special! Let me tell you I have never had a Reuben like this! The bread was fresh and made right on the premises! The bread was topped with thousand island dressing roast beef, goat cheese and I think Swiss cheese! This was served with fries! Everything was so yummy! We enjoyed our lunch so much that we made reservations for our anniversary next month! read more

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Food and drinks were delicious and service was great. The patio area was really nice, but I wouldn't sit at the edge again if it's hot-the sun really beats down there when it's going down. This is a great place to take kids while still getting a nice adult meal. The food came in a reasonable time so the time bomb kid hadn't exploded and they had toys, books, and crayons to keep them entertained. The kids meals were a little small on their own (they were very cheap so not complaining) but my kids eat a lot. They are picky but ate everything and were eating my food, so next time I'd just add a side of fries or cornbread and they'd be fine. Blueberries as a side is genius for a kids meal. Also the tartar sauce they gave the kids was really good and I swiped it for my own catfish. The normal entrees were great and really filling and I especially liked my cocktail. read more

Cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich is it. Just get it and thank me later. The hubs and I stopped here on the way around the lake after a Watkins Glen hike. We were hungry so the menu was hard to choose from. Everything looked great. The staff was super helpful in helping us decide. But you just gotta get the catfish and a root beer. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside looking into a green area. It was so quiet we were practically whispering -- enjoying a moment of nature and great clean food. Inside also had some merch and a cooler of healthy and unique drinks. I could see this being a tourist stop for those looking to take a second from the wine and enjoy some peaceful vibes and quality food. So glad we found this quiet and quaint lunch spot! read more

Stonecat Cafe - Cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich with an edible flower! - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

Had takeout from here and it was fantastic, we had a few different entrees and starters between us and it was all lovely. A very cool space as well, although on a rainy night with our pup in tow, take out ruled the day. read more

So so delicious, and I love how they emphasize sourcing from local farmers! They have a lovely outdoor patio that's covered and overlooks the meadow in the backyard and separate lawn seating that's serviced by the bar. I believe their menu rotates throughout the year and they also have daily specials for appetizers and entrees. We ordered the baked brie and pate to start, and I was surprised at how generous a portion they gave for both. They served us a large portion of pate along with a healthy serving of local blue cheese and other fixings, which were all delicious. The baked brie was perfectly toasted and gooey, and we practically licked the plate clean, it was so delicious. I ordered the catfish, which was really crispy and delicious, although after the appetizers, I was pretty stuffed. I definitely recommend adding on the house hot sauce for whatever dish you get; its texture is more similar to relish than liquid hot sauces, but it's perfectly spicy and fresh, and complements any dish well. I've come here a few times and they've never disappointed. With delicious food and a great atmosphere, there's not much else you could ask for! read more

Memorial Day weekend NIGHTMARE. Ambience - We made reservations 2 months in advance, for my wife's birthday, and asked to be seated inside, only to be told no space was available. We were placed outside where we were bitten up by mosquitos. It didn't help that we waited over 25 minutes for a server to show up, only to apologize and say they are "understaffed tonight and every night" The Drinks- mojito came out in a huge half a litter cup, diluted completely with just sprite; and ice. Not sure you can call this a mojito. Disgrace to serve cocktails in this type of cup. The food - chicken under a brick ($28) smallest chicken breast I've ever seen, which was over cooked, served with a nasty dry and over salted bread clumps (did not eat). How can you charge nyc prices for such a small portion size and disgusting food??? And how is this rated so well??? I left starving Smoked bbq beef ($26)- was really just a sloppy Joe mess of a dish. The meat was dry once again and attempted to be saved with a sauce. It's listed on the menu as "smoked bbq beef" wish they described it better Overall a terrible experience $80 dinner for two where bother people left hungry, and didn't bother drinking their "sprite" if I'm paying nyc prices in a small town i expect stellar service and amazing food. StoneCat fails to deliver in all areas. Id say it's a tourist trap and should be avoided at all costs - especially with the many great options nearby. read more

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Loved this place. Beautiful vista and the garden is set up to maximize seeing the sunset. Had the Negroni, pasta special, and peach cobbler. All delicious. Staff is accommodating and lovely. read more

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At the end of a day exploring New York State wineries, we headed to Stone Cat on advice of friends. It does not disappoint. The great view and ambiance are surpassed by the food, Especially the BBQ and catfish. We were pleasantly surprised by the local wines and we are California Kids. We cannot wait to get back. Easy to find with free parking at a crossroads north of Watkins Glen, NY read more

Stonecat Cafe - The view from Stone Cat toward the finger lakes - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

Loved everything about our experience there, right from the start when we walked in; we felt very welcomed; the lady who was at the front was extremely nice, gave us a table near the window as we'd requested, the waitress was super super nice (everyone at the restaurant was unbelievably nice - ), food was great we had mushroom risotto & Chicken both were amazing, the field salad was super fresh & the desert (strawberry & apple crisp with vanilla ice cream) was amazing. The trip to the restaurant took us through the vineyard trail, lake views & a beach park & a waterfall. Highly recommended when visiting Watkins Glen. read more

Stonecat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

Excellent location overlooking Lake Seneca. We were fortunate to be able to see sunset from the window of the restaurant. I suspect the people dining outdoors behind the restaurant had an even better view of the lake. My husband and I shared the gravlox appetizer. The portion size seemed perfect for two of us and too big for one person. The two of us didn't finish the food. The gravlax was very tasty, almost sweet. I disliked the dressed field greens; tasted like vinegar to me. Enjoyed the gravlax plain with the little pieces of bread that came with the dish. I didn't try the other accoutrements: pickled green beans, onions and herbed cream cheese. Both my husband and I ordered the salmon entree. I enjoyed it more than he did. I thought the salmon was well prepared. He thought the salmon was a bit dry; I told him that's because it looked like wild-caught salmon, which I understand is lower in fat than the farm-raised salmon many restaurants use. I enjoyed the green beans, quinoa and citrus sauce. Was a good entree for me. Our server provided good service but didn't smile. The hostess who greeted us at the entrance not only didn't smile, but did not make us feel welcome and tried to seat us near a very noisy large group. Thankfully, she was willing to let us switch to a quiet table in the next room. read more

This is our favorite place to eat in the Watkins Glen area. The food, staff and atmosphere are top notch. Casual but not sloppy. It's obvious that all who work there are part of a big (staff) family and truly care about everyone having an excellent experience. We went on a Wednesday Pub night and the local band that played was very entertaining. I am gluten free and found several great options. This place is a must if you are visiting the Finger Lakes! read more

Stonecat Cafe - Evening view from the patio - Cafes Near Me - Hector, New York

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