Lawrence Township 'Storm Stories'

It’s been two weeks since Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey. While a handful of local residents are still without power and toppled trees, snapped utility poles and dangling wires are lingering reminders of the storm, life in Lawrence Township has pretty much returned to normal. Certainly, the same cannot be said about other areas of our state.

Having now had a chance to catch our breath, so to speak, after the hurricane (and the nor’easter that dumped four inches of snow on the township last week), we at Lawrenceville Patch would like to share two little Sandy-related stories, and some photos that go with them, that were sent in by readers.

And if you have your own Lawrence Township “storm stories” to share, we’d love to hear them. Please share your hurricane tales by using the comments section below.

Village Bakery  

Patch reader Marcia Willsie sent in the following account of what took place at the Village Bakery during Hurricane Sandy:

It was a child's dream! Last night the Village Bakery on Gordon Avenue, having lost its power, threw open its doors to friends and neighbors offering, for free, all their perishables: cakes, pies, quiches, breads, cheeses.

And friends did indeed come! By candlelight they poured into the bakery, grabbed a plate and helped themselves to the most sumptuous meal anyone could have hoped for on such a night – chef Karen Child's best, all for free. Husband Bo Child brought in fellow musicians who played some spirited bluegrass into the night as people visited with each other. A welcome relief from being housebound during the storm.

There was a little boy, Dester Selby Salazar, who was celebrating his sixth birthday that night. His mother brought the birthday cake from home to share and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to him just before the band began playing.

That party was a total blast! It felt like a small town at its best.

McGuinn’s Place

Patch reader Joanne Fletcher wrote to advise us that on Nov. 7 McGuinn’s Place hosted a concert in benefit of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The rock band The Classic Crime from Seattle and singer William Beckett from Chicago performed. A total of $1,000 was raised for the relief fund - $400 as a result of the concert, and another $600 donated directly by The Classic Crime and William Beckett.

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