Volume XIII Issue II Fall, 2011
Elaine Huyck Gransbury (‗82) stated that ―Yes the Elks was devastated again this year. We had 8 inches less water this time, making our total water level at 5 1/2 feet this time versus 6.2 feet in 2006. Right now the Elks has been gutted and we are in the process of seeing what we can salvage versus having to buy new. Our tentative goal is to be back up and running by December 1st but as you know that date could be elusive.‖ We have learned that the Elks Lodge is doing business out of the Masonic Temple at this time.
Flooding Damages Sidney... Again Torrential rain from Tropical Storm Lee following Hurricane Irene the week before was more than the Susquehanna and the surrounding area could handle and in September Sidney incurred a lot of damage from flooding. It was not as severe as the flooding of 2006 but if you were among those affected that didn‟t really matter much. Kay Greene DeMott, ’56 submitted the following article describing some of the aftermath. The article was written September 13th. Since then businesses have reopened, some people are rebuilding and some are not. Your donations to flood relief in Sidney can be send to the Sidney United Way, PO Box 14, Sidney, NY 13838. Be sure to indicate “Sidney Flood Relief” on the check. You can also donate using Paypal at the website www.sidneyunitedway.org Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
Hurricane Irene – go away! Sunday, August 29, 2011, we lounged on the back patio to the tune of the heavy rain, watching the trees swing from side to side. It had rained most of the night and brought to mind memories of 2006 – our area's 100 Year Flood. It can't happen again, or so we thought. The power went out about 8:30 am, came back on and went out again lasting until the following Wednesday night – 4 ½ days here on Poplar Hill and so many more were without power for many more days.
Calm Labor Day Weekend 2011 Labor Day weekend was coming – and after the long power outage that we had, we had to get the freezers and refrigerators cleaned out before we left home for the last, long weekend of the 2011 summer season.
Tropical Storm Lee— go away !! Then...Labor Day Monday came in with rain, wind and generally awful weather. Everyone was prepared to send their kids back to Sidney Central School on Tuesday, September 7th. The first day of school was rainy, but then on the very next day, the kids had early dismissal, due to the pending storm and flood advisories. Today is September 13 and the kids are still home from school awaiting news that the water supply is safe to use and that cleanup is going on and the state of emergency has been lifted. During this period of time, we are seeing a repeat of the Flood of 2006 and in some cases, it is more serious than the last time. The American Legion, the Elks Lodge, Amphenol, Rite Aid and so many community establishments have suffered again. In this article, we will visit some of our SCHS people and get their input on the current tragedy.
Construction on the Fairbanks building.
help each other in our small, close-knit town. People do take pride in our area and work together to help others and themselves recover from what comes our way. The Sacred Heart Church, although the basement was totally full of water, was able to move all items from the basement to the to the upstairs level and the church proper was not covered with water as in 2006. Fr. Gordon Polenz noted that he had people calling to help, but cleaners were acquired for the cleanup for this 2011 flood. Of course, when church records are compromised, they could be lost forever. Luckily, this was not the case.
Dave VanValkenburgh, ('76) was behind the Rite Aid Pharmacy counter today, as though nothing has happened. In talking to Dave, he told me that, although there was no power, his staff worked at the pharmacy to keep residents supplied with vital medications so needed. They worked in minimal lighting to put up meds and to dispense it through the side window. Although the river water was up to this area, fortunately the new Rite Aid did not take on any water during this time. After satisfying people at the pharmacy, Dave worked at the shelters assuring people that their medication needs would be taken care of for them. They worked with the Red Cross, who assisted getting the proper medicines set up for shelter-bound people. Today seems like a normal day, our medication was ready and all seemed okay. We are seeing a lot of the kinship and helping and caring for others in this time of need happening in our town, but didn't we always !! Following the Flood of 2006.Dave VanValkenburgh put a completely new basement floor under the Fairbanks building which had at the time incurred a lot of water damage. The floor has lasted well, but a wall caved in during the most recent disaster. Wakeman Construction (Sidney graduates) are currently getting ready to repair this wall on the Liberty St. side.
The bridge to Route 7 from Sidney. Landers Funeral Home, engineered by Jim Barnhart ('62), Jeff Bagley ('89) and Rosemary Gregory ('03) had the usual water in the back room, but managed during this flood not to have their entire building full of dirty and foul river water. In their business, it is required that work goes on, regardless of the condition of the premises. Again, their fast thinking kept them operable. (Continues on page 13)
Flooding in Sidney Forces SHOF Ceremony to be Postponed Until Thanksgiving Weekend
Recently, a pair of women from the Afton area opened a consignment store in the Fairbanks location and it had just opened to the public. Nothing was damaged during the flood and it will be business as usual in the very near The October 14-15 Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekfuture. end was forced to move everything to Thanksgiving Weekend, November 25-26 based on the flood recovery The Flood of 2011 is affecting yet another Sidney event! timetable. The SCSAA‘s Sports Hall of Fame Induction will now be held on the weekend of November 25-26, per Greg Davie While this almost last-minute call caused many to change ('76) who is chairman of the SHOF Committee. or even cancel their plans, the outlook is still good for a great weekend, which will also see the full return of the Alumni basketball will make its full comeback on the Sidney Alumni Basketball Night, the night prior to Hall of same weekend. Greg notes that our inductees will be hon- Fame festivities. ored at that time. A social hour will be held following the game and the balance of this event will be held as sched- All four inductees - Loren 'Moby‘ Collins, '51, Jon Deuled, but at the Sidney Fire Training Center, still hosted Temple, '61, Noel Kobia, ‗65 and Sue Ferraro, '77 were by the Elks. The Elks Lodge will continue to do business contacted in time to rearrange their schedule. In fact, both as usual, following the water damage that it received for Sue and Jon have expressed interest in playing in the the second time in five years. This should prove to be a Alumni Game. As for the Legacy Group - the 1962-1963 great and fun event for all the sports' fans, inductees and unbeaten and Sus League champion Sidney Baseball Warfamilies. Enjoy this ! riors - there appears to be team representation of which Hall of Fame coach Al Drake would be proud. Pride in the Tribe !! Tickets are $25 and will be available through the Sports (SCHS sports' teams' slogan) It takes a flood ???? I guess we never believed that we Hall of Fame Committee, as well as VEP and Glad Tidings would suffer another tragedy so soon after the Flood of in Sidney or call Greg Davie, '76 at 607-643-2913. (Continued on page 14) 2006. Sidney natives and newcomers have worked to