You Tell Us: How Did Your Neighbors Help Each Other During Hurricane Irene?

In the past several days, neighbors have stepped out of their homes to help clear debris, cook out together, and share coffee and stories during Hurricane Irene and the aftermath. Here's thank-you from one resident to another. 

Have a story that you'd like to share? E-mail editor Penny Riordan at penny.riordan@patch.com.

The morning of the hurricane a large tree limb fell across Summit Avenue blocking both the road and our driveway. A Baltimore County representative could give no cleanup date even though Summit Avenue is a walkway to Hillcrest Elementary.

When I saw the black pickup truck stop just before the blockage, I wondered why did he come so close. Out he climbed, chainsaw in hand and with but one pull, had it roaring. Our neighbor across the street and I wondered 'do we know him?' Neither of us did. At first he appeared to have a no-nonsense face, but when we gathered our cutters and rakes to help, he broke out in a friendly smile.

We found out this jovial good neighbor is a long-time Catonsvillian named Bob Cross. With his buzz-sawing and our snipping and raking, Summit Avenue was again free and clear in an hour. What a community and lucky that it includes people like Bob Cross.

-Don Corbitt