I was so distracted with the aftermath of super storm Sandy that I didn't have the chance to post the photos from the Halloween parade. It really was another fun and festive day in Phoenicia. Enjoy the pictures!!
Photos © Carol Seitz
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Vacant Planning Board Seats
There will be two vacant seats available on the Shandaken Planning Board. Information about the Planning Board is available on the Town's website:
Applicants should send a letter of interest and resume to Shandaken Planning Board, PO Box 67, Shandaken, NY 12480, or email
PBShandaken@yahoo.com.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Getting Trains To The Outer Boroughs
Tommy Healy sent us some follow up photos to his last series about the subway. Here is what he had to say:
As a follow up. The below photo shows one car of a 10 car train that was cut up. It's being lifted and swung off it's wheel sets and will be lowered to a flat bed truck located down in the street. Once it arrives in the rockaways and is reassembled, the train will run locally bringing passengers to awaiting shuttle buses. It will be a while before the tracks are repaired.
- Tom
Photos of crane lifting train by Harry Cruz
Thursday, November 8, 2012
A Clear, Crisp Day
Today was a bright, clear, cold day in the valley. As I said in my previous post there was no snow here at all. Everything seems to have fallen to the south and east of us. The temperatures over the weekend are supposed to go back into the high 50's. So I guess we get another reprieve from the onset of winter. Enjoy it while it lasts!!
No Snow Overnight
Good morning all, I am happy to tell you that absolutely no more snow fell overnight here in the valley....nothing....nada.....none!! We had a slight dusting earlier in the evening but after that we got lucky. The storm seems to have slipped to our south and east. So, while it is cold (temps in the low 30's) there is no shoveling to be done. Yippeeee!! But I am not going to get too excited because it is only November and the cold weather has only just begun. As usual, I will keep you posted.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Nor'easter Update
Right now there is only a dusting of snow in the valley. Looks like so far this storm hasn't effected us too much. The temperatures are holding in the low 30's. There are no winds to speak of at this point. I will keep you posted as to our status as the storm progresses. Again, if I don't post for more than 24 hours you can assume that the power and/or internet has gone out in the valley.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Pumping Out The Subway
WCA member Tommy Healy works in the city as a dispatcher for the MTA. He sent these great photos of the pumping and restoration of the subways. Very interesting!! Here is what Tommy had to say:
In some of the yards I have worked we would have these trains at the ready even for a heavy summer thunderstorm. This is the A & C line Cranberry street tunnel as we know it, under the east river near Fulton Street in Mann. You can see the high water mark just over half way up.
Bring on the the pump train - A 10 car train pushed in by a deisel locomotive to reach into the flood zone.
There is a siphon hose out the front and one that is bigger below the car out of view. The train pumps 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
Inside one of 7 cars called a reach car that carry water to hoses out the back of the train that leads to the street.
Once the water is gone. Signal and track dept go in to inspect track and every signal and switch that was under water. I now dispatch trains with flats and a crane cars. These trains would be used to clean debris and muck that has settled in the tunnels. The one below is carrying exit hoses to help continue to pump water out.
And below..... "an once of prevention..." this an example of a dam set up at 148st and lennox terminal on the #3 line It could have completely flooded the entire terminal. It held out the east river as you can see, saving a lot of sea water entering the tracks below that would need to be pumped out.
Now the A line to the rockaways, that's another story....
In some of the yards I have worked we would have these trains at the ready even for a heavy summer thunderstorm. This is the A & C line Cranberry street tunnel as we know it, under the east river near Fulton Street in Mann. You can see the high water mark just over half way up.
Bring on the the pump train - A 10 car train pushed in by a deisel locomotive to reach into the flood zone.
There is a siphon hose out the front and one that is bigger below the car out of view. The train pumps 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
Inside one of 7 cars called a reach car that carry water to hoses out the back of the train that leads to the street.
Once the water is gone. Signal and track dept go in to inspect track and every signal and switch that was under water. I now dispatch trains with flats and a crane cars. These trains would be used to clean debris and muck that has settled in the tunnels. The one below is carrying exit hoses to help continue to pump water out.
And below..... "an once of prevention..." this an example of a dam set up at 148st and lennox terminal on the #3 line It could have completely flooded the entire terminal. It held out the east river as you can see, saving a lot of sea water entering the tracks below that would need to be pumped out.
Now the A line to the rockaways, that's another story....
Foot note to the last pic in the rockaways. We plan to take apart a train and truck it to the to the rockaways reassemble it on the track and run limited service to meet with shuttle busses.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Power Back To Whole Valley
Unless you have a problem that is specific to your house, the power, phone and internet are back to the whole valley.
Phone Back, Power Mostly Back
The phone service is back to the valley. The power was back up to the Fawn Hill area by yesterday afternoon. Supposedly the rest of the road will be on later today (except for me - see post below). So everything is getting back to normal. Unfortunately, I just read that they are keeping an eye on another possible nor'easter that might be headed our way next week. I will keep you posted on that. I would definitely advise you all to have someone check your houses. I have heard of a couple of tree related damages to valley homes in the last couple of days.
PS - If you still need Wi-Fi the library has opened early today (Fri 11/2) to accommodate people without service. Thanks Phoenicia Librarians!!
PPS - DRY ICE UPDATE ! There IS Plenty of Dry Ice up at the Lanesville Fire House about 4 miles from Phoenicia on Rt. 214.
PS - If you still need Wi-Fi the library has opened early today (Fri 11/2) to accommodate people without service. Thanks Phoenicia Librarians!!
PPS - DRY ICE UPDATE ! There IS Plenty of Dry Ice up at the Lanesville Fire House about 4 miles from Phoenicia on Rt. 214.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Power Still Out In The Valley
Power has been restored in Phoenicia but is still out in Woodland Valley. It will probably be a couple of days more before we get back to normal. There are still many downed wires all along WV Road. At this point they have replaced the broken utility poles so they are working in the right direction. NYSEG has been out on the road everyday since the storm occurred.
For those looking for internet Town Hall has open Wi-Fi. Town Clerk Joyce Grant says you can also recharge devices there as well.
There will be no more dry ice at the Phoenicia Firehouse but at this moment (2:30 Thursday Nov 1) the Olivebridge Firehouse still has 1/3 of a palate and they are getting more tomorrow. For more information call the Olive Town Clerk at 657-2320. They are located on Mill Road in Olivebridge. To get there make a right onto RT-28A in Boiceville. Then turn right onto RT 213/CR 4 and take the 2nd right to Mill Road.
PS - This just in (as of 3:15pm) , there is dry ice in the Lanesville firehouse on Rt 214 near Sickler Road.
For those looking for internet Town Hall has open Wi-Fi. Town Clerk Joyce Grant says you can also recharge devices there as well.
There will be no more dry ice at the Phoenicia Firehouse but at this moment (2:30 Thursday Nov 1) the Olivebridge Firehouse still has 1/3 of a palate and they are getting more tomorrow. For more information call the Olive Town Clerk at 657-2320. They are located on Mill Road in Olivebridge. To get there make a right onto RT-28A in Boiceville. Then turn right onto RT 213/CR 4 and take the 2nd right to Mill Road.
PS - This just in (as of 3:15pm) , there is dry ice in the Lanesville firehouse on Rt 214 near Sickler Road.
