Scranton completes 40 projects fixing damage from 2018 flooding
Scranton has completed 40 projects totaling $5.5 million that improved eight waterways and infrastructure damaged by severe flooding in August 2018, officials said.
Scranton city officials who spoke about the flood-restoration projects at a caucus of Scranton City Council on Tuesday included Fire Chief John Judge, city engineering project coordinator Morgan Fetsock, city Engineer Tom Reilly, who is president of Reilly Associates, and that firm's project manager, Joey Seidita, according to an Electric City Television video of the meeting posted on YouTube.
Some of the work that occurred in recent years involved stabilizing streambanks, removing sediment and repairing a large section of river levee wall and two bridges.
'This makes the city a safer place,' Judge said of completion of the numerous projects. 'This is critical for the city of Scranton and this should be applauded that this is now finished. It was a lot of hard work from a lot of partners here in the city.'
Impacted waterways included the Lackawanna River, Stafford Meadow Brook, Roaring Brook, Meadow Brook and the Lindy, Leggetts, Keyser and Leach creeks.
The overall project got delayed, first by the COVID-19 pandemic and then by the severe flash flooding event of September 2023. But the final work recently got completed and the city now is closing everything out for continued federal/state drawdowns of funding to cover costs, Judge told council.
The final project to get completed also was the single largest project undertaken — the replacement of 130 feet of the levee wall along the Lackawanna River, a short distance upstream of East Elm Street in South Scranton, and which cost over $1 million, officials said. Reilly told how the levee wall was compromised by the 2018 storm because when it was constructed in the 1950s, the wall was butted up to a foundation of a former meatpacking plant that had been there. When the plant was removed and the earthen levee was added, the old basement wall was left in place as the flood wall, 'which was not at all constructed like a flood wall or a retaining wall,' Reilly said.
Other work completed included:
Removing 39,300 cubic yards of sediment and material from waterways, or 4,000 triaxle dump truck loads.
Stabilizing a total of a quarter-mile of streambanks with 6,270 cubic yards of riprap rock.
Repairing an over-150-year-old retaining wall at the historic Iron Furnaces.
Repairing a pair of bridges carrying Oak and Jackson streets over creeks.
Removing 102 trees.
Along with having to obtain dozens of private and commercial easements for work to occur, the overall project also involved permitting, oversight or involvement of various agencies and entities. Those included the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state Department of Environmental Protection, state Fish and Boat Commission, Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad, Scranton Iron Furnaces and private and commercial property owners. Every project had to be reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers, DEP and commission. Trout and bat restrictions also limited times when work could occur.
'Getting this project to the finish line was critical, but I think it also highlights some of the challenges we may have going forward,' Judge said. 'As we all know, there's a lot of changing going on in the federal government. We don't really know what's going to happen if we have another one of these events. We've seen disaster declarations recently turned down, not in our state, but I think it's important that we continue to maintain these waterways.'
Judge also thanked council for timely passages of pieces of legislation regarding contracting.
'When these events happen, timeliness is very important. Going forward, just keep it in the back of your mind, we need to move quickly,' Judge told council. 'To be able to move contracts through council quickly, to make sure we're getting contractors in place that can start and perform that work is crucial.'
He added, 'There was a lot we learned through this, and I think that we're better poised going forward to be able to deal with and mitigate these incidents.'
*
Repairs of a levee wall along the Lackawanna River a short distance upstream of East Elm Street in South Scranton are underway on Jan. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
Repairs of a levee wall along the Lackawanna River a short distance upstream of East Elm Street in South Scranton are underway on Jan. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
Repairs of a levee wall along the Lackawanna River a short distance upstream of East Elm Street in South Scranton are underway on Jan. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
Repairs of a levee wall along the Lackawanna River a short distance upstream of East Elm Street in South Scranton are underway on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
Scranton city officials spoke about flood-repair projects at a caucus of Scranton City Council on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from left, city engineering project coordinator Morgan Fetsock, Fire Chief John Judge, city Engineer Tom Reilly of Reilly Associates and that firm's project manager Joey Seidita. (IMAGE SCREEN GRAB: ELECTRIC CITY TELEVISION VIA YOUTUBE)
*
Scranton City Council members during a caucus on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from left, Tom Schuster, council President Gerald Smurl, Mark McAndrew and Jessica Rothchild. (IMAGE SCREEN GRAB: ELECTRIC CITY TELEVISION VIA YOUTUBE)
Show Caption
1 of 6
Repairs of a levee wall along the Lackawanna River a short distance upstream of East Elm Street in South Scranton are underway on Jan. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Expand
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Columbus schools, library team up to fight summer literacy slide
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Many students love getting a break from school during the summer months, but it's an easy time for children to fall behind in their literacy and comprehension skills. Children nationwide continue to make up for time lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even more important to stay on track with their reading during summer break. School districts and libraries in central Ohio are still working to close that learning gap. 'Some of the things that happened during COVID prevented our students from those outside learning experiences, those hands-on experiences, so we're seeing some gaps with that knowledge base and that experience within comprehension,' Columbus City Schools Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Kelly Rivers said. Columbus Recreation and Parks offers 'Go, Lunch!' summer program Rivers said simply reading interesting books during the months off is an important step toward improving critical literacy skills. 'Summer learning is one of the most critical points of an entire year, and we don't want to lose sight of that,' she said. Columbus City Schools has created specific programs to help with reading comprehension during the school year and the summer. Besides those programs, Rivers encourages parents and caregivers to visit the Columbus Metropolitan Library, whose Summer Reading Program is aimed at helping kids keep up with literacy skills. 'Taking two months off of anything can be really hard to maintain that level and keep it a strong skill,' Columbus Metropolitan Library Public Services Director Miya Reyes said. Reyes said the loss of those reading skills during the summer slide, putting children at a disadvantage in the fall. Final full moon of Spring, the 'Strawberry Moon,' glows over central Ohio 'Reading is a tough skill, whether it's somebody who's already been reading or they're learning to read, and it can be something that's difficult to learn to do,' Reyes said. 'I think one of the most important things about it is to make it fun.' Whether students get extra reading help and encouragement through their school districts, local libraries or right at home, there are many resources available to parents and guardians to keep their children on track this time of year. 'Reading with your child, giving them opportunities, taking notice of inquiry and things that can increase the learning process, all those things help to decrease those summer learning gaps,' Rivers said. 'Books are so important,' Reyes said. 'Access to books, access to information can only come from being able to read that material yourself over time.' How a small town was revamped into 'Ohio's most loveable downtown' Rivers and Reyes both said literacy is everywhere and practicing can be as easy as reading street signs with children, reading labels on products at the grocery store or checking out a book that interests them. To sign up for the Summer Reading Program or learn more about it, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Children's Museum in Peoria Celebrates a Decade Serving the Community
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum has spent 10 years serving the children of Peoria, celebrating with cake and cookies on Wednesday morning. The years of experience have allowed almost one million children to dive into the world of open-ended play. The idea is to let children explore and make mistakes in a safe environment, according to the playhouse's website. 'Play is so important. It is so vital for littles to have that safe, supportive environment, to know that they are secure, that they can make mistakes, that they can grow, that they can do whatever it is that challenges them and be successful to build that resilience,' Melissa Sierra, director of the Peoria Playhouse, said, The playhouse has a plethora of exhibits that range from a floor piano, water table, movie theater, science lab and more. Even with all the exhibits they have now, the playhouse plans to make expansions as they move into the future. 'Ten years is a long time for a children's museum. It's a relatively new field to be open for ten years and then to get to be able to have that refresh and refurbish. We're looking at some specific progress, programs and projects like glassing-in the porch and then some revitalizing action, like building up our water table areas again,' Sierra said. Executive Director of Peoria Parks District, Emily Cahill, shared some of the new improvements they plan to make in the future during a press conference. 'We look forward to expanding our farm experience to include a produce stand, a grocery store and a food truck. These efforts will also serve as backdrops for enhanced experiences, focused on workforce development as part of our be anything effort,' Cahill said. Members of the playhouse expressed how much they have enjoyed watching children grow, as well as the museum itself. 'It is amazing. It is a gift. It is a privilege every day to watch littles learn, grow and explore' Sierra said. Not only is it a gift, but some people feel the playhouse can become more like a home. 'It's clear that the playhouse has become so much more than a museum. It's a vibrant home where families connect, children grow, and memories are made,' said Robert Johnson, the president of the partnership board of trustees. For Cahill, not even the walls of the playhouse can hold in the imaginations of children. 'We've learned that it doesn't take these four walls to expose kids to the kinds of open-ended play and imagination that happens in the playhouse,' she said. It's not only the members of the museum who can enjoy the fun, but also the community as a whole. 'Ever since the first time we brought my four-year-old he wants to come back every week,' said CJ Zeiters, a parent of a playhouse child, 'He just loves everything about it. And they got the zoo and the playgrounds outside. So, it's like there's always something to do.' Within the past years, there have been many obstacles, one of which was the COVID-19 pandemic. It forced the playhouse to think about play in a different way, and how they can deliver the same services, even during a quarantine. 'COVID was especially impactful. It had us think about the way we delivered services. It changed everything that we did,' said Cahill. 'I think we still see some of the effects, just as we all feel those effects on some days of COVID. But it changed the way we think about the Peoria Playhouse.' For more information about the Peoria Playhouse, memberships and single-day passes, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
SDPB promoting free educational resources for parents, educators, caregivers
Jun. 10—MITCHELL — As home to longtime programming content like Sesame Street, South Dakota Public Broadcasting and its fellow public broadcasting outlets in other states are known for educational programming, along with other cultural, information and news offerings. But there is more than just that available at SDPB. That was the message staffers and supporters of South Dakota Public Broadcasting were sharing Friday evening in Mitchell. They had set up a booth near the Corn Palace to talk with the public about programming the organization has available, particularly when it comes to early childhood development and educational resources. "One of our core mission objectives is ensuring that every child in South Dakota enters kindergarten ready for school and ready for life and is supported and informed by engaged parents and professional educators and caregivers," Julie Overgaard, executive director for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, told the Mitchell Republic. "Our job isn't to take the place of any of that caregiving. It's to provide useful, high-quality, set-to-state standards educational resources that are free for anybody to use." Overgaard was referring to a slew of online educational and professional development materials available for anyone to use for free online through the SDPB website. Those resources include PBS Kids videos, interactive games, early learning resources such as activities, lessons and articles along with outreach and professional development information. It's all available at and Overgaard and her fellow SDPB officials are hoping South Dakotans take advantage. The programming is geared for year-round learning but the free, online nature makes it available for use at any time or any season. SDPB is focusing its outreach on teachers, parents and other professionals such as daycare providers. The offerings found their footing in the late 2010s, particularly in the leadup to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then that interest in the educational programs took off when young children were suddenly home from school due to worries about the virus. Combined with general funding issues associated with education, the SDPB programs grew into a valued repository of learning tools. "(The pandemic) just had an outsized impact on our efforts in this area that none of us saw coming. Since then, we've been really successful and our major donors and other people around the state are really feeling that this is an important topic area that maybe doesn't get the funding and attention it deserves," Overgaard said. The materials provide a great source of educational activities, but there are also resources related to professional development. Overgaard said SDPB holds professional development workshops at daycare centers, Head Starts and school-associated preschools on how they can use the free materials to support their curriculums. The programming is designed to meet South Dakota early learning guidelines, she said. Other outreach takes place at public libraries to encourage student interest in reading, as well working in the summer with teachers to help them with continuing education or professional development credits. "We go to a lot of education conferences and meet the teachers where they're at and just keep trying to get the world out about what we have to offer them," Overgaard said. She said that over 100,000 children a month access the available online programs. When added to other programming offered by SDPB, that comes in closer to 750,000 children a month. The resources have been especially utilized by homeschooling families, who Overgaard said are always on the lookout for supportive materials. A recent stop at a homeschooling conference was well-attended and well-received, she said. Kara Brodsky, brand and marketing manager for SDPB, was at the organization's booth on Friday in Mitchell, speaking with members of the public next to a large cutout of Sesame Street star Elmo. Conversations ranged from topic to topic, but getting the word out about the educational materials was paramount. "(It's for) parents, for sure, but also teachers," Brodsky said. "We're here to support parents and teachers with the resources they might need. We fill in the blanks a little bit with some of the things that we can help with. So teachers, caregivers, anybody who is reaching those preschoolers, that early childhood development, is really important." Conveying the value of the resources that SDPB has available is important right now, Overgaard said. There has been concern about potential funding cuts to public broadcasting at the federal level, and Overgaard and other SDPB officials have been lobbying South Dakota leaders such as Rep. Dusty Johnson, Sen. Mike Rounds and Sen. John Thune about the importance of that funding to various programs. The cuts target perceived bias at the national level, such as National Public Radio and programming like PBS NewsHour, All Things Considered and Morning Edition, Overgaard said. But such cuts could hurt more localized programming, as well. "I'm very, very concerned about it. Federal funding flows through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which has been targeted for elimination in a rescission of prior authorized funding. The talk is that it's all about biased programming at the national level," Overgaard said. "What most people don't understand is that the money that's being rescinded or threatened for elimination — the vast, vast majority of those dollars are funneled to local public broadcasting stations across the country like SDPB. So the cut will have an outsized impact on rural networks and rural stations if it goes through." As officials with SDPB monitor the funding situation, they are also celebrating more accessibility to their product in the Mitchell area. The organization recently launched a new full-power radio station, 89.1 FM, near Mitchell. The tower has been in the works for nearly a decade, with Overgaard saying that another full-power radio station in the area overpowered the old low-powered SDPB transmitter and "blew us off the air." Listeners should be able to pull in the new transmission easily, she said. "Now we have a good quality signal into Mitchell that extends all the way down south of Parkston, covering a much larger geography. We've really solidified our coverage in that area," Overgaard said. The new signal is a boost for SDPB, Overgaard said, but the free educational materials are available anywhere, anytime for anyone who has access to an internet connection. In times when funding for education can be limited, any and all quality resources become valuable for parents and professionals alike who want to support their kids the best they can. The invitation to use those materials is always open, she said. "The state and the legislature have had difficulty coming to agreement and funding for early childhood education initiatives. So as with other things in the state, you sometimes have to figure out the best way to do it yourselves," Overgaard said. More information on the educational resources available through SDPB can be found at
