Linwood makes it through the storm

Last Updated on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 01:12 pm Written by Suzanne Marino Tuesday, July 03, 2012 06:33 pm

Photo by James FitzPatrick/Tony Hare of the Linwood Public Works Department dismantles a tree that toppled across Schoolhouse Drive in Linwood Saturday.

LINWOOD – The storm that blasted the region Friday night took a big toll as it rolled through the Mainland area. Linwood went black minutes into the storm and while portions of the city had power back Sunday night, they lost it again Monday morning.

City workers were out Saturday morning pushing fallen trees out of the way so traffic could get through.

The hum of chainsaws has been a constant for three days as homeowners take care of what they can manage and the tree experts are working from dawn to dusk removing fallen trees.

Dave Marino of Linwood put a call into Joe Portnoy of Affordable Tree in Egg Harbor Township at 2:30 a.m. when he realized there was a tree down in the back yard and a neighbor’s tree resting on his roof. Portnoy said Saturday the middle of the night call was not the first.

But at a time when most people are just trying to assess their damage and move forward, there are also people who are not certified tree experts out trying to make a quick buck. A truck pulled up in front of a Vernon Avenue home and offered to cut down trees. When asked where the tree service person was, the driver claimed to be a cousin and was helping out and working for cash. He was also sent on his way.

Joe and Christine Rake of Wood Avenue in Linwood lost an incredible silver maple that was twice the height of their home on Friday night. With the tree went the custom stone work, the sidewalk and some of the irrigation system.

But rather than cry over the beautiful tree that was gone or the front yard that was heavily damaged, the Rake’s were very happy. “This tree could have fallen on our house and done a great deal of damage. But it didn’t. It took the power lines out and it did fall on our neighbor’s car but no one got hurt. We removed more than 20 trees from this property that we were afraid might fall when we rebuilt here. When my husband said a tree fell, never in a million years did I think it would be this beautiful tree. I did not think anything could bring that tree down. But no one is hurt and that is all that really matters,” said Christina Rake.

State Department of Transportation crews worked on the traffic signals Sunday evening at Central and New roads while Atlantic Electric crews reset the fuses at the Cedarbridge Drive and New Road to get that intersection up and running. Meanwhile, in Somers Point a makeshift four-way stop sign at New Road and Ocean Heights Avenue reminded people that even in the heat, patience is a real virtue and each took their turn crossing the intersection.

Photo by Suzanne Marino/A silver maple in the front yard of the Keating home at 212 Alexander Dr. luckily fell toward the street and spared the house.

Photo by Suzanne Marino/Christine Rake surveys the scene Sunday after loosing a towering silver maple in the Friday night storm. The Rakes had removed more than 20 trees from their property over the last few years and never thought the silver maple would fall. It dropped away from the house and while it took out the power lines and utility pole and fell on the neighbors Ford Explorer, there were no injuries.