New Castle Unplugged: Storm stories by residents

March 5, 2010
by Susie Pender

The library was alive Saturday with a warm community spirit. I sat with and spoke to friends who would not usually be there. We often pick our books, pick our movies and run.

But Saturday, I needed Internet access so I found a seat with my laptop while my girls wandered about the library and the village.  When I needed help, other “users” were there.  It was lovely. The Friends of the Library “coffee and . . .” set-up lent a nice welcoming touch. Hope it did not leave a mess because it was really sweet!

Helen Jonsen

Tropical fish survive snowstorm

The Frumkes family came to the rescue of Olivia Harris’ pet tropical fish when the power outage from the February 26 snowstorm caused the fish’s water to cool to life threatening temperatures. Olivia is a pet loving seventh grader at Bell Middle School. The four fish –Boss, Coin, Flower and Little Eel – were not happy when their water dropped from tropical to temperate to downright cold. Fortunately the Frumkes, who live close by and had their power restored within a few hours, offered the cold fish a temporary home. Happy to say, the fish have survived their ordeal and are enjoying an extended, warm sleepover pending a return home. 

David Harris (Olivia’s father)

Comfort food and camaraderie at Chappaqua Restaurant

The line was out the door from 7:00 a.m. until close of business at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, recalled Abe Abdalla, owner of the Chappaqua Restaurant and Café, better known to most as “the diner in town.” On Saturday, they didn’t close until 11:00 p.m. “The Con Ed workers and contractors, they ordered a lot of food. They were cold and hungry.” 

When the snow flies, it seems people head for comfort food. “We served a lot of soup, and heard a lot of complaints about power being out,” Abdalla noted. “Not once, not twice, but many, many customers asked other customers if they wanted to come over and spend the night. I witnessed it so many times. It was sweet and nice.”

Seniors in the cold found warmth and help at the Senior Center

To our dismay, the snow came down as predicted.

I woke up Friday morning to a rather chilly house. In addition, glass was scattered all over my kitchen floor. A branch had fallen and hit my kitchen window. Not assuming anything further such as an electrical outage, I proceeded to clean up the mess. I took out my vacuum cleaner and that’s when it finally dawned on me: no power!

Of course, I was unable to see NewCastleNOW.org’s up to the minute alerts! So I went to the police station to assess what was happening. What’s open? What’s closed?! He proceeded to tell me that the library was open, and upon looking at me more closely, said, “Oh, the Senior Center is open.” Well that was the beginning of an experience that demonstrated that the town hasn’t forgotten us! 

Love letter to all CERT members and the staff at the Senior Center:

CERT is an extraordinary team and provides an invaluable service.

My husband and I were recipients of the help and kindness of this group during this past severe storm.

Many thanks for your solicitous concern and help providing

a WARM and hospitable space during a rather difficult situation.

Rita and Mort Ross

File under: Where do bunnies go in a snowstorm?

We just got power back last night. We ended up at a hotel and smuggled

our rabbit in, as despite his fur he is not meant for cold and was not

looking well.

File under: Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide

At the town board meeting this Tuesday, during a discussion of property casualties of the storm, board member Michael Wolfensohn shared the plight of his neighbor, who parked his car in his driveway after driving home in the snowstorm because a fallen tree was blocking the path to his garage. Not to be thwarted, another tree fell on his car while it was parked in the driveway.

Thanks to NewCastleNOW.org for helping keep residents informed during the storm

Dear Editors of NewCastleNOW.org,

Bravo to you for carrying this [notice below] and becoming a vital communication link across the community!

And hoping not to have to use the shelter,

Naomi Marrow

On Friday, February 26 at 8:23 a.m. NewCastleNOW.org blasted the following notice to its subscribers. (Click HERE to sign up now for a free subscription so you won’t be left out in the cold next time!) 

THE SENIOR CENTER ON SENTER STREET IS SET UP AS A SHELTER  

Many trees, tree limbs and wires were downed by the heavy snow.  It will take a while to dig out. In the meantime . . . 

The Town of New Castle has called on The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to operate the Senior Center at Senter Street, across from the Historical Society, as a shelter for residents who are lacking electricity or heat.  The Center has food, water and heat as well as cots, books, TV – and company. If you can’t get to the Center yourself, call 238-8888 and CERT members will send someone to get you. Please check on elderly neighbors and tell them about the shelter.

If you live out of town and your elderly parents are here in New Castle and averse to computers, contact them and tell them that the Center is open, or call the Center (238-8888) and tell CERT members about your parent or parents.  Let CERT members know too if any medication is involved. 

If you haven’t already signed up for the town’s e-alerts: 

http://www.newcastlealerts.com/user/usersubscribe.aspx 

or for the police department’s emergency alert service, www.nixle.com, this is a good time for every household, no matter your age, to do it.