Canajoharie -- 7/10-7/14
By now everyone was anxious and ready to move back onto their boats; however, there was still no power on the dock. Early in the week of July 10, Carmella Mantello, Director of the NY Canal System, came to visit us down at the town dock. She was very apologetic and asked what was needed. The reply was power; she asked one of her assistants to get a mobile generator here immediately. She also said that the repair work was progressing, and we should be on our way by Saturday, July 15. After taking inventory of food needed, we borrowed Amy’s car and headed to the supermarket to stock up. Grocery shopping becomes a major event as almost every time one shops, it is in a different store with a different layout. We learned that it is easiest to way is to go down every single aisle and even then items are missed or not where we think they should be located.
Wednesday, July 12, Amy’s daughter, Laura, turned 16 and she wanted to celebrate with “the family of boat people”. All met at the pavilion where we first were introduced to Amy and Laura.
Thursday, July 13, we attended the Board meeting of the Mid Country Volunteer Ambulance. Jim spoke and presented them with a sealed envelope containing donations for all of us, since they had done so much for us. The local press had been invited as we wanted the locals to know that we had made lifelong friends, and we were grateful for the generosity and hospitality shown to us.
Friday, July 14, Carmella Mantello held a press conference at Riverfront Park to announce our departure scheduled for the next day along with an update of progress of work on the NYS Canal System. All the major network television stations and all the local newspaper reporters are present combined with the 11 of us standing behind her. She stated that the villages along the Erie Canal will lose about $30 million in revenues this summer from the closed canal and that it will take about $50 million to repair the locks and dams. She asked the mayor of Canajoharie speak, asked Jim, our Commodore to speak, and then presented all of us with “I Love NY” t-shirts and sun visors. Also, the scuba divers from St. Johnsville Fire Department (the ones who rescued us) came back to clear the rest of the debris under the boats.
Wednesday, July 12, Amy’s daughter, Laura, turned 16 and she wanted to celebrate with “the family of boat people”. All met at the pavilion where we first were introduced to Amy and Laura.
Thursday, July 13, we attended the Board meeting of the Mid Country Volunteer Ambulance. Jim spoke and presented them with a sealed envelope containing donations for all of us, since they had done so much for us. The local press had been invited as we wanted the locals to know that we had made lifelong friends, and we were grateful for the generosity and hospitality shown to us.
Friday, July 14, Carmella Mantello held a press conference at Riverfront Park to announce our departure scheduled for the next day along with an update of progress of work on the NYS Canal System. All the major network television stations and all the local newspaper reporters are present combined with the 11 of us standing behind her. She stated that the villages along the Erie Canal will lose about $30 million in revenues this summer from the closed canal and that it will take about $50 million to repair the locks and dams. She asked the mayor of Canajoharie speak, asked Jim, our Commodore to speak, and then presented all of us with “I Love NY” t-shirts and sun visors. Also, the scuba divers from St. Johnsville Fire Department (the ones who rescued us) came back to clear the rest of the debris under the boats.
posted by Palmetto Moon at 11/21/2006 04:22:00 PM
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