When I was five years old, an amazing battle was raging in my hometown of South Otselic, and though I don’t remember many of the details, I do know that without the actions of the community, it might have become an entirely different place.

This week, I was reminded of the event, which had completely escaped my memory. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the state was looking at sites to locate low level radioactive waste facilities, and areas in Chenango County near South Otselic were on the list.

Even now, my memories of those years are pretty vague. I can remember seeing the bright orange signs on lawns throughout the valley, and I have lingering memories of singing songs like “No Nukes for Me” during morning programs at the school. Beyond that, I have no memories of the tumultuous times and the actions the community took to protect area residents and our way of life.

Although I can’t remember much of those times, hearing about the actions taken by the local residents and the school district in Otselic Valley seem amazing to me today. The district took on an active role in protesting the waste facilities, and they weren’t only concerned with the site being built in their backyards. They were concerned about the threat to the public wherever the facility was built.