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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/31/manahawkin-horizon-diner-lifeline-residents-electricity
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| New Jersey diner a lifeline for residents cut off from homes and electricity | New Jersey diner a lifeline for residents cut off from homes and electricity |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Horizon Diner has always been at the heart of the community in Manahawkin, a small town of barely 2,000 people just west of Long Beach Island. But after superstorm Sandy ripped through this coastal community on Monday night the diner has become a vital lifeline for those looking for both something to eat and to keep warm. | The Horizon Diner has always been at the heart of the community in Manahawkin, a small town of barely 2,000 people just west of Long Beach Island. But after superstorm Sandy ripped through this coastal community on Monday night the diner has become a vital lifeline for those looking for both something to eat and to keep warm. |
| On Wednesday, there was an almost constant stream of people coming through the door of the restaurant, with its white and green exterior and plush red booths and long, curved bar. Like most here, the diner lost power during the storm but was one of a few buildings in the town to get electricity back on Tuesday. | On Wednesday, there was an almost constant stream of people coming through the door of the restaurant, with its white and green exterior and plush red booths and long, curved bar. Like most here, the diner lost power during the storm but was one of a few buildings in the town to get electricity back on Tuesday. |
| "It's been extremely busy," said manager Joanne Daddetta, as she raced around serving coffee and ringing up receipts. "There's nowhere else for people to go and eat. A lot of people don't have power at their house, the stores are closed, no electricity, no gas, so they chose to come out." | "It's been extremely busy," said manager Joanne Daddetta, as she raced around serving coffee and ringing up receipts. "There's nowhere else for people to go and eat. A lot of people don't have power at their house, the stores are closed, no electricity, no gas, so they chose to come out." |
| Daddetta lost power herself, but said she has managed to adjust to "walking around with a flashlight". | Daddetta lost power herself, but said she has managed to adjust to "walking around with a flashlight". |
| "It was eventful, it was something I've never experienced before," she said. "I have a gas stove, so with a little bit of a flame the gas worked, and we are, we had dinner, we had our coffee, so we were OK." | "It was eventful, it was something I've never experienced before," she said. "I have a gas stove, so with a little bit of a flame the gas worked, and we are, we had dinner, we had our coffee, so we were OK." |
| Manahawkin itself is a small town built mostly around one street which leads down to the New Jersey coast. Most of the wood panelled houses seem to be intact, and there are people on the streets and cars on the roads, although traffic signals are still not working. | Manahawkin itself is a small town built mostly around one street which leads down to the New Jersey coast. Most of the wood panelled houses seem to be intact, and there are people on the streets and cars on the roads, although traffic signals are still not working. |
| Joe Golding, a retired teacher, popped into Horizon on Wednesday morning with his wife, Pam, and friends George and Lois Papp, to "get warm and get food". The Goldings live on the bay side of Long Beach Island, so their house had some protection from the storm surge, but they were still forced to evacuate on Saturday night. They have not been able to return yet to see the damage, as police roadblocks are in place even for residents, and are worried about what they'll find. | Joe Golding, a retired teacher, popped into Horizon on Wednesday morning with his wife, Pam, and friends George and Lois Papp, to "get warm and get food". The Goldings live on the bay side of Long Beach Island, so their house had some protection from the storm surge, but they were still forced to evacuate on Saturday night. They have not been able to return yet to see the damage, as police roadblocks are in place even for residents, and are worried about what they'll find. |
| "Oh it's very frustrating," Joe said. "Some of the people who live in Beach Haven West have been allowed to return, but I haven't. And the people who are there, if they leave they're not allowed back." | "Oh it's very frustrating," Joe said. "Some of the people who live in Beach Haven West have been allowed to return, but I haven't. And the people who are there, if they leave they're not allowed back." |
| Joe and Pam, who have had a house in the area since 1979, are staying at Lois and George's place until they can return. The Papps live in Ocean Acres, farther back from the water, although the foursome have still had to make do without power. | Joe and Pam, who have had a house in the area since 1979, are staying at Lois and George's place until they can return. The Papps live in Ocean Acres, farther back from the water, although the foursome have still had to make do without power. |
| "The thing I miss the most is the hot shower," Lois said. Joe was the only one to brave the icy water this morning. "We're living by candlelight," she added. "We still have gas, although the only heat we have is through the fireplace so that's where we congregate." | "The thing I miss the most is the hot shower," Lois said. Joe was the only one to brave the icy water this morning. "We're living by candlelight," she added. "We still have gas, although the only heat we have is through the fireplace so that's where we congregate." |
| "You do what you can, make the most of the daylight hours. Our routines have changed, we eat our main meal earlier and then just have sandwiches later in the evening." | "You do what you can, make the most of the daylight hours. Our routines have changed, we eat our main meal earlier and then just have sandwiches later in the evening." |
| Lois said they have also missed out on being able to keep updated on damage from the storm, although they have received sporadic bits of information. | Lois said they have also missed out on being able to keep updated on damage from the storm, although they have received sporadic bits of information. |
| "People have been calling in. My sister in North Carolina has been calling in to tell me what she says on TV to tell me what's happening in my own area," she said. | "People have been calling in. My sister in North Carolina has been calling in to tell me what she says on TV to tell me what's happening in my own area," she said. |
| Joe also has a "little transistor radio", but hasn't been having much luck with getting a signal, and entertainment has been limited. | Joe also has a "little transistor radio", but hasn't been having much luck with getting a signal, and entertainment has been limited. |
| "Last night was fun. We kind of played Tripoli by candlelight," Lois said, although the others seem to recall the experience with less enthusiasm. The board game antics came after dining on a baked ham that Lois had cooked before the storm struck, although they were now down to canned food. | "Last night was fun. We kind of played Tripoli by candlelight," Lois said, although the others seem to recall the experience with less enthusiasm. The board game antics came after dining on a baked ham that Lois had cooked before the storm struck, although they were now down to canned food. |
| The majority of diners at the restaurant were without power at home, although there was mostly a stoic attitude among those the Guardian spoke with. Duke Lang grew up 50 miles from the Missouri river in Iowa and is used to this kind of thing. | The majority of diners at the restaurant were without power at home, although there was mostly a stoic attitude among those the Guardian spoke with. Duke Lang grew up 50 miles from the Missouri river in Iowa and is used to this kind of thing. |
| "Back when I was a kid you didn't have power anyway," Lang, 80, said, although his wife, Jane, disputed that account. "Well during tornadoes we didn't," Duke said. "But this is back in the '40s." | "Back when I was a kid you didn't have power anyway," Lang, 80, said, although his wife, Jane, disputed that account. "Well during tornadoes we didn't," Duke said. "But this is back in the '40s." |
| The pair live in Manahawkin and are without power, although both their sons have generators running their homes, so they have been able to eat hot meals. "We took all the food round to their houses," Duke said. "It's cold in our house and there's no hot water but it's OK." | The pair live in Manahawkin and are without power, although both their sons have generators running their homes, so they have been able to eat hot meals. "We took all the food round to their houses," Duke said. "It's cold in our house and there's no hot water but it's OK." |
| Duke retired from his day job as a carpenter at a fairground in August, and as a man who used to "climb roller coasters every morning" to perform repairs, he says he's used to "going with the flow". | Duke retired from his day job as a carpenter at a fairground in August, and as a man who used to "climb roller coasters every morning" to perform repairs, he says he's used to "going with the flow". |
| Jane few up on Long Island Beach, which is still closed off after being badly hit by the hurricane. She's pretty resilient too. | Jane few up on Long Island Beach, which is still closed off after being badly hit by the hurricane. She's pretty resilient too. |
| "You're used to it when you live on the island," she said. "We get power cuts when there's ice on the wires and they break, when there's wind," she says. | "You're used to it when you live on the island," she said. "We get power cuts when there's ice on the wires and they break, when there's wind," she says. |
| "You usually just go downtown, the bars are open, and everyone has a big party." | "You usually just go downtown, the bars are open, and everyone has a big party." |
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