CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. -- Two years after flood waters ravaged Canajoharie, Vicki Everleth is still trying to get things back to normal at the youth center.
"Our current project is to replace the floor," Everleth said. "It's difficult because it's so big."
Before the flood, kids would flock to Canajoharie's youth center when school let out, but dehumidifiers and drains have taken the place of pool tables and foosball.
"It was just a hub of activity going on here and now you can see it's nothing," Everleth said.
Six hundred kids sign up for programs here every summer and while it may have been easy for this drop-in center to take the path so many others have, Everleth opened the doors just one year later.
Two years ago this month, the Mohawk River climbed above its banks and flooded several towns along the shore and some places are still trying to get back to normal. The youth center in Canajoharie is one of those places. Our Mark Repasky tells us how some local gardeners are helping the center blossom again.
"We are very unique and we are very fortunate. We've been part of the community since 1944," Everleth said.
But the center is still only using half its space.
"You can't really picture it, but having been a kid and growing up here, I won't say it's depressing, but it's hard because I want to offer the kids so much more," Everleth said.
Last year, an idea to help the community center blossomed among several local women. They decided to host a garden tour to raise funds.
This year, the tour has grown to include fourteen gardens, including one at the Arkell museum. Francis Avery put his Victorian garden on tour,too.
"It's not quite as structured, you mix things in," Avery said.
All in the hopes of generating a little fertilizer to keep this place growing.
"Two steps forward, one step back. We'll get there, we'll get there," Everleth said.
To even better than before.
The Garden Tour to benefit Canajoharie Youth Center will take place Saturday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets and refreshments are available at Arkell Center.