Greetings!
As I am writing this I can hear the buzz of several chainsaws around my block. They are just a small part of the monumental task of cleaning up from last week's storm. Many are calling it the "storm of the century." Actually for us New Yorkers, it is. The storm has brought many challenges; for clean-ups, restoration, and a return to normalcy. Differing in the view from some of our politicians and the media, I think LIPA has performed admirably under difficult circumstances. They are basically being tasked with the job of re-wiring 1/3 of Long Island in less than a week. Crews have been brought in from as far as California to work 18 hour days. I know this is of no solace to any that are still without power and heat. On my son's block there were 3 poles with transformers down and many service wires were torn off the houses. The other day five crews, all from different states, worked for 9 hours to restore power. This scene is being repeated block after block. This is an extremely challenging situation. When I first went into business, my first accountant used to say, "Every challenge presents opportunity." My Nana always said, "Every cloud has a silver lining." In this case, the opportunity and silver lining are the community's response to the storm. The storm in many ways has brought us closer together. People unable to text and get in their cars have actually been meeting with neighbors, sharing generators, cooking pot luck dinners, and offering moral support. I have been amazed at the number of phone calls and e-mails I received from bakers around the country asking, "Just wanted to know if you are safe and our hopes and prayers are with you." By and large this is the atmosphere I have felt this past week. I do so hope we can continue it moving forward. Normally November begins an exciting time at the bakery. I consider these next two months the greatest for food and in particular baked goods. Food incites passion for bringing people together and sharing. Reinwald's Bakery hopes our efforts, be it pumpkin pie, holiday stolen, or just a plain cookie, help bring back a smile of satisfaction in this time of duress.
We will be putting out a special newsletter before Thanksgiving, but please check out the side panel for our Thanksgiving schedule. Please be safe and hopefully we can enjoy our Holidays, Rich Reinwald.  The subject line of this e-mail mentioned coincidence. Last weekend before Sandy hit, Carole and I were supposed to go to Seattle to visit our son, Greg. Coincidentally we were in Seattle during Hurricane Irene. Greg called us a few weeks ago to let us know he would be out of town on business. So instead of Seattle, we visited my sister in western New Jersey. As I hope many of you know, during the month of October Reinwald's Bakery had a cupcake sale to benefit children with Down Syndrome. We feel fortunate and thank all of you for helping us raise $1,900 for that cause. That Sunday morning we went to church with my sister's family. The offering of the gifts was presented by two teenagers with Down Syndrome. I must tell you I was moved by this coincidence. First I did not go to Seattle at the time of the storm and then I wind up in this small church where members of their community were spot lighted with the same cause we were supporting. By the way, many people say "there are no such things as coincidences." | 
