Since my: last article, the old school building has once again changed ownership and (YAWN)... the story is starting to get repetitious, at best! Another set of promises, good intentions and uneducated bravado on the part of yet one more downstate (always wanted to use that word!) owner is upon us. However, it appears as if the current chapter in the history of this unbelievably unique structure could be another short one, much like the last two. Believe me when I tell you though... we continue to investigate all possible avenues... it's too involved to detail here but we have gone ahead and our construction manager has enlisted the services of a preservation advisor from the Syracuse area. They will be meeting with a representative of NYS Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation in the near future to identify potential funding for stabilization and restoration of the building, as well as that which can be used to purchase such property.

It's becoming evident that the building will have to be owned by a not-for-profit organization for us to proceed but for you alarmists out there, that doesn't necessarily mean the Alumni Association itself. As I have always done, I must once again stress that this process is a dynamic one... there is no cookbook way to accomplish what we're trying to do and we're defining it as we go. I'd be remiss in not saying we would welcome donations from any and all alumni but since we are now fully into the investigation of the building, I wish to make another plea to those alumni we've identified as the `Founders Group' if we haven't heard from you yet, now is the time.

All the above aside, most of us continue to have a romance with the building... almost as if it were a living, breathing part of who we are and what we've become. After all, every graduate of and teacher in the Sidney School System through approximately 1980.(the system sold the building in 1968) either attended school there or has classmates or had students that at least began their grade school experience there. As a matter of fact, I have it on good authority that one student... from one of the last few 6^th Grade Classes to graduate in the building... still gives building tours, as recent as this last July, to friends and relatives when he/she is in Sidney. I can only say that your secret is safe with me but the next time we talk, I have to know how the heck you're getting in!