Greene’s Labor Day picnic recovers from last year’s washout
GREENE – One of the oldest festivals in the county will be returning this year: the Greene Labor Day picnic celebrates its 93rd anniversary Monday.
Last year, the picnic was hit hard by the massive flooding that swept through the region. Machinery and amusement rides were washed away, tents were flooded, and the Coca-Cola company even lost an entire truck. The record-setting flood of 2011 left many New Yorkers homeless, including people in the village who were forced to find shelter elsewhere.
But the Greene community persevered, rising above the challenge that the flood presented. Walking among the already erect tents earlier this week, it would be impossible to perceive what transpired a year ago without forewarning. After the flood, the people displayed their solidarity, uniting to “get everything cleaned and ready to go,” said Byron Miller, president of Greene Labor Day Picnic Association. “The community pulled together and got the job done,” he said.
This year is going to be bigger than ever because everyone wants to celebrate making it through a trying year, said Greene Mayor Marcia E. Miller, who, along with her family, has managed a novelty tent at the picnic for the past 56 years.
Almost an entire week before Labor Day, tents already cluster Ball Flats Park, and eager amusement operators can be seen surveying the park in anticipation of this year’s crowd.
All of the proceeds of the picnic will donated as usual to an assortment of local youth organizations, with only a small portion of the revenue being put aside for next year’s picnic, said organizer Miller. The entire event is run by groups of volunteers from both the community at large and the school, which donated the park to the community years ago. The Labor Day Picnic is about “everyone coming together, it’s all about the community,” he said.
All the attractions that have become a tradition at the annual picnic will be returning this year and the festivities will kickoff with the ever-popular hose fights a 8 a.m. Monday on Genesee Street. Carnival rides provided by Green Mountain Amusements will be running both Sunday and Monday. Other reappearing events will be: the 5K race at 9 a.m., the antique and hot rod car show from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the 10 a.m. parade, and a number of other events to the rhythm of live musical performances. Monday night will be capped off with a 8:45 p.m. fireworks display provided by American Fireworks ran out of Utica.
New this year will be an exhibit produced by Raymond Corporation to celebrate the manufacturer’s 90th anniversary. The exhibit will be held in the green bricked house on the park grounds and will feature a miniaturized version of Raymond Corp.’s ‘hall of progress.’ The company will be giving things away to show their support of the event, said exhibit coordinators Charlotte K. O’Dea and Elizabeth Buza. Raymond has been a large part of the community for 90 years, currently employing some 1,250 people.
A Greene Central Schools bus will be onsite taking donations of school supplies. Donations of nonperishable food items will also be accepted.
Per tradition, Greene Labor Day Picnic Association’s Vice President Jim Amell will call bingo during two sessions. “He been doing the bingo tent for as long as I can remember,” said Miller. “It’s a lot of work, but he does a good job.”
Parking will be made available at the Great American on South Chenango Street. and buses will run to and from the park every 15-20 minutes from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Handicapped parking will also be available at the Ball Flats Park.
Last year, the picnic was hit hard by the massive flooding that swept through the region. Machinery and amusement rides were washed away, tents were flooded, and the Coca-Cola company even lost an entire truck. The record-setting flood of 2011 left many New Yorkers homeless, including people in the village who were forced to find shelter elsewhere.
But the Greene community persevered, rising above the challenge that the flood presented. Walking among the already erect tents earlier this week, it would be impossible to perceive what transpired a year ago without forewarning. After the flood, the people displayed their solidarity, uniting to “get everything cleaned and ready to go,” said Byron Miller, president of Greene Labor Day Picnic Association. “The community pulled together and got the job done,” he said.
This year is going to be bigger than ever because everyone wants to celebrate making it through a trying year, said Greene Mayor Marcia E. Miller, who, along with her family, has managed a novelty tent at the picnic for the past 56 years.
Almost an entire week before Labor Day, tents already cluster Ball Flats Park, and eager amusement operators can be seen surveying the park in anticipation of this year’s crowd.
All of the proceeds of the picnic will donated as usual to an assortment of local youth organizations, with only a small portion of the revenue being put aside for next year’s picnic, said organizer Miller. The entire event is run by groups of volunteers from both the community at large and the school, which donated the park to the community years ago. The Labor Day Picnic is about “everyone coming together, it’s all about the community,” he said.
All the attractions that have become a tradition at the annual picnic will be returning this year and the festivities will kickoff with the ever-popular hose fights a 8 a.m. Monday on Genesee Street. Carnival rides provided by Green Mountain Amusements will be running both Sunday and Monday. Other reappearing events will be: the 5K race at 9 a.m., the antique and hot rod car show from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the 10 a.m. parade, and a number of other events to the rhythm of live musical performances. Monday night will be capped off with a 8:45 p.m. fireworks display provided by American Fireworks ran out of Utica.
New this year will be an exhibit produced by Raymond Corporation to celebrate the manufacturer’s 90th anniversary. The exhibit will be held in the green bricked house on the park grounds and will feature a miniaturized version of Raymond Corp.’s ‘hall of progress.’ The company will be giving things away to show their support of the event, said exhibit coordinators Charlotte K. O’Dea and Elizabeth Buza. Raymond has been a large part of the community for 90 years, currently employing some 1,250 people.
A Greene Central Schools bus will be onsite taking donations of school supplies. Donations of nonperishable food items will also be accepted.
Per tradition, Greene Labor Day Picnic Association’s Vice President Jim Amell will call bingo during two sessions. “He been doing the bingo tent for as long as I can remember,” said Miller. “It’s a lot of work, but he does a good job.”
Parking will be made available at the Great American on South Chenango Street. and buses will run to and from the park every 15-20 minutes from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Handicapped parking will also be available at the Ball Flats Park.
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