Step by Step: Flood Recovery, and Summerfest on Saturday, July 26th, with the Strength of Our Community
- Catherine Aingworth
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
In the wake of the recent flooding that hit our buildings on Main Street, we’ve been deeply moved by the incredible outpouring of support from our community. Thanks to the kindness, energy, and resilience of our neighbors, we’ve made significant strides in our recovery—and we wanted to share a hopeful update with you.
It all started with a powerful act of generosity: the Swagler family loaned us a large trash pump, which allowed us to empty out the water from our lower levels within 36 hours of the flood. That rapid response made a world of difference. The basement areas under our Community Hall and Event Center (the former church) had filled with water, and once the pumping began, the hard work of cleanup could truly get underway.
From there, volunteers of all ages—from 15 to 80!—stepped in with shovels, wheelbarrows, and sheer determination to help us remove the thick mud and silt left behind. Their willingness to get dirty, lift heavy loads, and spend hours scraping and hauling speaks volumes about the heart of our community.
We’d also like to extend our deepest thanks to Jared Martin, who generously brought in his giant backhoe to level the ruts and washouts in our driveway caused by the floodwaters—restoring safe access to the property. And thank you to the Village of Newark Valley, who will be assisting with debris pickup, helping us clear away damaged materials and move forward in our recovery.
Summerfest Update
Thankfully, the upper levels of both buildings were spared from floodwaters, which means we’ll be able to resume events and programs there soon. We are especially excited to share that we still plan on cohosting our previously scheduled Summerfest 2025 on Saturday, July 26, right here in Newark Valley! This event will feature local art, music, food, and historical displays—and we would truly appreciate it if our supporters, neighbors, and community members came out to join us. Your presence will mean more than ever as we celebrate resilience and community spirit. The parade kicks off at 11 AM!
At our Newark Valley Community Connection Event Center, Saturday, July 26th:
1 pm: Northern Tioga Through the Years: A show that will display historic photos of Northern Tioga! Experience what the community was like back then!
2 pm: Digital Art Show @ Newark Valley Community Connection Event Center: Brought to you by Matt White, coordinator of the Luma Light Show in Binghamton will be displaying local that will be projected on the walls of the Event Center!
3 pm: Northern Tioga Through the Years: Show #2
4 pm: Digital Art Show #2
We know it’s short notice, but we are also inviting anyone with family stories or historical photos to consider sharing them with us to be included in our history display during Summerfest. If you have a piece of Newark Valley history you’d like to highlight—a beloved family photo, a memory from Main Street, or a story about our local past—we’d love to include it. The earlier we receive submissions, the better chance we have of incorporating them into the show. You can email us or drop them off in person!
Finally, we would like to take a moment to mention that in addition to the hands-on help, we’ve received supplies and financial support from across our area. We are especially grateful to the Newark Valley United Methodist Church, members of the Newark Valley Historical Society, Newark Valley High School students, the Tioga County Democratic Committee, Tioga County Rural Ministries, and local neighbor and businesses who have all stepped up with donations, supplies, or both.
To everyone who has lent a hand, shared a dollar, or spread the word—thank you. Your support has reminded us that while we may face challenges, we never face them alone.
As we continue with cleanup and begin longer-term remediation, we know we have a long road ahead. But with this kind of community spirit behind us, we’re confident we’ll come out stronger.
If you’d like to help us continue our recovery efforts, donations can be made on our website: newarkvalleycc.com. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.
The larger community of neighbors and friends came together recently to plan a fundraiser for families impacted by the flood. This fundraiser will be held on August 2, from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Newark Valley Fire Station. Please consider ways that you can support our neighbors.
With gratitude and hope,
The Newark Valley Community Connection Team
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