Jim Hutchinson in western New York learned from Mike Trombetta in Hawaii that Hurricane Sandy destroyed the tavern Richie Rogers owned in Rockaway Beach, New York. The loss is total. But we still have Richie. (posted Nov. 1, 2012)
Subsequent to that news, Jim Hutchinson forwarded a November 2, 2012 note from a friend:
The news keeps getting worse from Rockaway and Breezy
Makes you sick
things are bad. looting going on all over the rockaways.no cops anywhere. not safe for anybody.people cant get gas. no cars available. no time set when power will be back. people are scrambling to rent homes /apts outside the neighborhood. this is going to take a long time. been seeing aditional photos. both sides of 130st. from newport to cronston burned down. houses right up on the beach completely destroyed. there is talk of breezy point being condemned and just bulldozing the entire community.