Surrounded by Sandy (Updated 4:30 p.m. Monday)

Google storm map as of noon 10/29. Click for larger view. Get updated version here.

As of midday Monday, the monstrous merger of Hurricane Sandy and an inland storm system encompasses most of our extended family, from Virginia to upstate New York and from Columbus to Cape Cod.

Let us know how you're weathering the storm!

Last week, Sandy brushed Florida on its way north. Courtney reports there was "just a little bit of rain and wind but nothing too crazy." But by late yesterday, rain and wind were hitting coastal Virginia, and overnight it spread across much of the Northeast.

From Norfolk, Va., Lisa sent these photos today of flooding along the waterfront, several blocks from the apartment where she and Doug are living while Doug oversees engineering on the Midtown Tunnel Corridor project. (The ship is the USS Wisconsin.)



From Fredericksburg, Va.: Marie reports a lot of rain and some wind but no problems at the apartment where she, Brian and Xander are sitting out the storm. Brian had the day off as the Virginia Railway Express canceled service for the day, and will not resume until Wednesday.

From New Jersey: No ill effects so far (as of 3:30 p.m. Monday) at Birch Street Media headquarters, but the winds are picking up. The National Weather Service reports gusts of 40-55 mph in the area. Here's a little video clip of the wind in the trees behind our HQ.

Dan, Julie and Andy are all at home, as school is canceled until Wednesday and a state of emergency is in effect, keeping non-emergency vehicles off the roads.

And how about this: The needle on the Birch Street Media Weather Station barometer has fallen below the 28.3 low point on its scale!

From eastern Long Island: This amazing photo was posted at easthamptonpatch.com by a resident who listed the location as "Atlantic Avenue" - presumably the Atlantic Avenue beach in Amagansett.

Getting a head start on Halloween (Updated)

In Fredericksburg, Va., Dr. Who found Waldo on Saturday, and they headed downtown to the city's fall festival. There they met a reporter from the Fredericksburg Freelance-Star, who included them in her article:

Trick-or-treaters flooded downtown Fredericksburg Saturday, eager to beat impending Hurricane Sandy, which many parents fear will impact Halloween on Wednesday. Sponsors of the event, the Downtown Retail Merchants Association and city police, say this fall’s street festival drew the largest number of children to date. Officer Kenny Camp said they expected about 300 children, but an hour into the event nearly 1,200 came through...

(At) Rivery books, where children’s books were given out instead of candy ... Xander, 6, picked up a book titled “The Runaway Flying Horse” ... But he was most excited about a gum ball he received at a neighboring store. “It’s my favorite,” he said. Xander was dressed as Waldo and his father, Brian, was dressed as Doctor Who. Brian, who lives in the city, said they are definitely worried about the storm and were happy to have an opportunity to trick or treat early.

On Friday, Xander - or was it Waldo? - or Peter Parker? - transformed into Spiderman to join the "Boo at the Zoo" festivities at the National Zoo in Washington.

Prepare for wild weather

Family members from Virginia to Massachusetts are bracing for several days of bad weather next week, as some combination of Hurricane Sandy and a Midwestern storm is expected to clobber the Northeast starting as early as Sunday and lasting ... well, days.

On the map above, the path that spends all week making a curlicue around Baltimore and drifting toward New York looks the most dastardly, but nearly all the paths would bring heavy rain and wind to the entire region.

Everybody stay safe! And please keep us posted on how you ride out the storm.

Our team wins again! Walk to End Alzheimer's 2012

Led by Shanna, our family team was once again the (self-proclaimed) winner of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, held Sunday in Manhattan's Riverside Park.

More importantly, the team raised over $1,000 for the Alzheimer's Association, which operates programs of support for patients and their families and helps fund research into the disease.

Shanna writes: "Thank you for all the support for this year's Walk to End Alzheimer's! It was a great success and we reached our goal for the fifth year in a row - bringing our total so far to over $4,000!"

Click for larger view

Concert video: Coldplay

Back in August, Dan and Julie went to see Coldplay perform in concert at the Izod Center in New Jersey. Dan captured some highlights and edited them into this mini-concert-video. If you're a Coldplay fan - enjoy!

NYC Walk to End Alzheimer's less than a week away

It's time once again for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, raising money for research into this cruel disease and for programs to support families coping with it.

Since 2009, Shanna has organized a family team to join the annual walk in Manhattan's Riverside Park, run by the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer's Assocation.

The 2012 event takes place next Sunday, Oct. 21. The registration booths open at 9 a.m., opening ceremonies start at 10 and the walk gets under way at 11 a.m.

2009 walkers

Please join us -- either in person, for a pleasant stroll through the beautiful park, or in helping the cause by adding to our family's contribution. Visit our team page to learn how.

The Alzheimer's Association provides a variety of support services for patients and families, as well as helping to fund medical research. Click here for a run-down of services provided by the New York City chapter. You could also find information about a chapter in your area - and about local Walks - on the national association's website.

Our extended family has been touched multiple times by Alzheimer's disease, giving us a stake in the fight against it. Please join us as "we walk to win."
 

Band season marches on for Christopher, Andy

It was a busy weekend for Chris and his bandmates at Hilliard Darby High School. The Panther marching band played halftime at a Friday night home football game, then performed in two competitions Saturday.

This picture of the saxophone section -- Chris is the one waving his sax over his head in the middle of the back row -- was taken before the Mid-Ohio Classic competition, where the band won the Grand Champion trophy.

Meanwhile in New Jersey, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School band played at a football game Saturday afternoon and a competition that night. Here's a shot of Andy in action during the half-time show.


By the way, both school's football teams won their games.

The SPFHS Raiders band is one of the largest in the state, and so far this season has not faced a competitor in its category. But it will be up against several other big bands from the NJ-NY region when it takes part in the Yamaha Cup competition at Met Life stadium (home of the Giants and Jets) on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Artist at work en plein air

Hugh writes: On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County, Md., sponsored a festival day that included a special tour of the 16 Garrett County barns with quilt elements mounted on them, plus exhibits at the Fair Grounds.

Dolores was one of three artists asked to demonstrate at one of the barns. She produced a plein air painting using the pastel medium.

The quilt element on the barn she is painting is known as “Crazy Quilt.” For more information, check out the Barn Quilt Association’s web site, GarrettBarnQuilts.org.

Spruced up on Birch Street

The grounds of Birch Street Headquarters have had a makeover.

Dan and Julie are enjoying the new look of their front yard.

Over the summer, workers trimmed trees, dug out surface roots and removed scraggly bushes; re-graded, added topsoil and seeded the yard; planted new bushes, perennials and a kousa dogwood tree; and repaved the driveway and entry.


Finally, the work is done and the grass is coming up.

Here's a "before" picture.