FREE 7507 STATE ROUTE 5, (corner of Bidleman Road) LITTLE FALLS NY 13365
315-508-5131 www.mohawkvalleyfunerals.com
Largest facility in area with most off street parking
Daniel J. Enea 3rd Generation Funeral Director
VOLUME 4: NUMBER 8
AUGUST 2024
Canal Celebration set to kick off August 7th that more families can participate, and it won’t It’s that time of year break the bank. Everyone again, and the 37th Little can just come out and Falls Canal Celebration have some fun.” is about to get underway, starting August 7th and Christman said that local running through August business participation 11th, 2024. According is one of the most to the organizers, the significant changes for schedule includes some this year. “A new thing returning favorites and we’re having in the park new events. is the beer tent by Lock 17 on Saturday. That Cathy Christman said, will kick off our inaugural “A lot of people have pub crawl. Years ago, asked about the rides, we used to close off part but unfortunately, a lot of Main Street, and that of companies that have hasn’t happened in many done them in the past are years. either going bankrupt or closing up shop because “The people in town can of the cost of insurance patronize the local bars, and everything else. It’s clubs, and restaurants. just too much for them.” We’ll see how many end up at Rock Valley at 10 She said they won’t be o’clock that night,” she able to have the carnival remarked. rides, but they will bring back some other events Two local women will lead and put some new things kayaking along the Canal in for kids. “Our goal is during the picnic in Rotary to make them free so Park on Wednesday and By Dave Warner
Photo by Dave Warner - Kids race out into the street to pick up candy during the 2023 Canal Celebration Parade in Little Falls.
before the fireworks. “There won’t be any formal racing, but you can bring your kayak, canoe, or rent one at the harbor. There will also be live music with the Valley Rockers,” she stated.
be selling raffle tickets for prizes donated by local businesses: “A kayak, a necklace from Little Falls Diamond Company, gift certificates, a patio set, and an Adirondack chair. We’ve got some cool things.”
“On Friday, we have the parade, and there are some old things and participants who haven’t been in the parade for a while. The Mohawk Homestead is going to be marching with the reenactors. We’ll Inflatables will also be have a DJ playing and at the harbor for the On Thursday, there is announcing in front children. “They can be Cruise Inn by Mike, the of M&T Bank, and the amused while eating and adult fishing derby, and a Shriners are back,” waiting for the fireworks.” charity poker tournament Christman said. “The at the Elks. Please See CANAL Page 3 Christman said they’ll also
Pair of Little Falls Firefighters Complete SWFT Rescue Class By Scott Kinville
Aaron Wilson and Brandon Thomas of the Little Falls Fire Department recently completed the New York State Swiftwater/ Flood Rescue Technician (SWFT) training program. The class was held for 32 hours over four days in June at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany. The facility where the class is held is quite impressive. It is described on the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services website (https:// dhses.ny.gov) as follows: Opened in 2018, Swift Water and Flood Training is a state-of-the-art complex that provides a unique training
environment for swift water and flood rescue training and emergency boat operations. The complex, run by officials from the Office of Fire and Prevention Control, incorporates a city block that can flood, a swift water channel, a vehicle in water rescue prop, a three-acre pond, and a high-angle rope rescue tower. The Little Falls Fire Department has both the Barge Canal and Mohawk River within its jurisdiction, along with several smaller bodies of water. The department has waterproof rescue suits, PFDs (personal floatation devices), ropes, and an RDC watercraft (also known as “the banana boat”) at its disposal for water
rescue operations. With Wilson and Thomas completing the class, the department now has five SWFT technicians who can lead the way.
The SWFT training course at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany. Photo courtesy of https://dhses.ny.gov.
For Wilson and Thomas, the SWFT class was a opportunity to train with lot of work, but it was an other fire departments from all over the state enjoyable experience. and even the NYCPD “What I liked the most Emergency Response is the fact that we have Team.” such a great resource right here in our backyard, not just Little Falls but the Mohawk Valley,” Wilson said. “We were able to train in real-life class 3 water rapids in a controlled environment. We covered multiple scenarios and different rescue techniques to not only better serve our community but also protect ourselves at the same time. We had the
Thomas added “I enjoyed the challenge of the SWFT water course and working with departments across NYS. The facilities in Oriskany are amazing, I learned a lot about how dangerous the flow of water can be no matter how slow or fast it is moving. They taught us different techniques to get from point A to B or to be able to get a victim out
of difficult, fast-moving waters. They also showed us ways to get out of dangerous situations that could arise while in the water. I definitely have a different perspective on water after taking this course.” He also agreed with Wilson about how important the SWFT training is for the community. “With having the (Barge) Canal and Mohawk River, this course is very beneficial to be able to help the community at a higher level.”
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BILL MACRI
ASSOCIATE BROKER C: 315.360.1920 O: 315.866.2209 bill.joemacrirealty@gmail.com joemacrirealty.com
235 S. Main St. Herkimer, NY 13350