Finding A Retreat At The Library

By Kendra Bobowick

Seated at a long table awash with daylight from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the C.H. Booth Library’s front room, Gavin Preis looked at e-mails on his laptop. A cluster of residents sat with newspapers open on their laps on couches and in easy chairs, taking advantage Wednesday, November 2, of power restored to the historic Main Street building. Power to most of Newtown’s homes has been out since October 29 when a surprisingly heavy snowfall tore down trees and lines.

Like most residents, Mr Preis is doing his best to adapt to everyday life without power, water, or heat since the weekend storm. Pondering that people once lived without modern, plug-in conveniences, he considered his current position without power to run his heating system on nights that dip into the 30s.

“I can’t reinvent everything, like electricity — I just use it,” he said. “I don’t think I am alone; I am just willing to admit it.” Feeling frustrated and living life by improvising with space heaters and a generator to power them, he said he is worried about his family and pets in the cold.

In another room were friends Meredith Taylor, 8, and Rebecca McHugh, 9, who would normally be in school. Meredith’s house has power, but no cable television, phone, or Internet connection. To keep amused she has been “reading, playing, or sleeping,” she said.

Rebecca misses attending school, and is worried about her horses. “The hardest thing is we can’t get to them because a big limb is down.” They have been squeezing through downed branches to try to reach them. Thinking about her horses, she said, “They don’t like the snow.”

Seated at a table in the children’s department was 9-year-old Sidney Howard. She and her family have temporarily relocated to a hotel. The hardest part about living without power is “no TV,” she said. Her mother Debbie Howard and Debbie’s friend Laura Saeva both agreed that it is tough to have children home all day with cabin fever. Ms Howard is also concerned about the expenses. “There is the hotel and eating out every night. The list goes on,” she said.

Ms Saeva commented that “life is like [living like] a pioneer.” She said, “It’s hard.” Also living temporarily at a hotel, she said, “My dog is home. We have to keep running back and forth.”

Ms Saeva’s mother Rosalie Henderson is visiting from Texas and staying with her daughter. She has been visiting since October. Since Saturday’s storm, which postponed the tradition of trick-or-treating on Main Street, she said, “I was hoping to see the Halloween event.” Trying to be positive, she said “It’s been cold, but we have adapted, but I am with my family and can see my grandchildren.”