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Politics & Government

Residents Making Do After Irene

Neighbors gather, help one another in days following the storm.

Kings Park was bustling with activity after Irene as residents took to their yards for clean-up, others were sitting outside catching up with neighbors and relatives.  The mood was upbeat on this bright sunny post-storm day as people shared their tales.

Craig Lehman of San Remo took his daughters Jenna 10, and Taylor, 6 over to grandma’s house on Rosewood because their Alda Road home was without power and they had a downed tree and power lines on the property. 

“They’re going to sleep at grandma’s tonight because it’s safer,” said Lehman. 

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His mother Rose Mary Lehman is also without power in her Rosewood home in San Remo but has the luxury of having a gas stove and is able to cook for her family.  Last night she served chicken cutlets to her happy family, tonight she plans on cooking steak.

“I’m not sure how long we’ll be without power, I have to cook the food in the freezer,” she added.    

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As power began to return to some parts of Kings Park, others were waiting patiently and making due like the Susan and Kevin Valiando.  Kevin seemed undaunted the I.V. hanging out of his left arm as he enjoyed his waterfront view.

“Kevin’s medication costs $1,000 so we had to buy a generator for his antibiotics and we have it hooked up to the fridge,” said Susan.

Valiando was just released from the hospital after a fourteen day stay and a friend helped them find a small generator for a few hundred dollars. Despite the unusually high post-storm tide, the Valiando’s did not incur any flooding.

Lisa Titone was also making due without power at her Ravenwood home and had set up an outdoor kitchen for her small brood and any relatives and friends that came by. 

“Grandma has power at Amapolla so we are shipping my son there so he can take a hot shower after football,” said Titone. 

Her neighbor’s tree came crashing down onto her screened-in back porch and took power lines with it.  It happened at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and she has not heard back from LIPA as of yet.

Tim Melanson was outside cheerfully continuing his storm clean up on Ravenwood.

“We had the best hurricane party in Kings Park last night – all the neighbors came down,” said Melanson.  

Neighbor Raph Devella said the party was epic. An extension cord took power from his home across the street and fed the Melanson home with power for the party.

A large tree came down outside the Melanson's Ravenwood home yesterday but within an hour, a dozen neighborhood men showed up to help clear his yard.  Shortly after town of Smithtown employee Bob Clark and his men arrived and cleared the entire tree away – a giant stump and an uprooted curb remain.  

Melanson said all and all Irene wasn’t so bad, he said it brought the neighborhood together.

“I’m cutting off everyone’s power next week so they all come out and talk again,” he laughed.

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