The media hyped up that the Hurricane could have been a Cat 3, by the time it hit Virginia, Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a CAT 1 and was pounding her way to New Jersey, New York and the surrounding states. Finally belief, the Township did everything possible to alert the homeowners and business owners in the flood prone areas. Door to door went the Fire Inspectors, Building Dept., Fire Departments, Reverse 911, Electronic Signs, Channel 77 News, the Township website was updated continuously during the storm (www.peqtwp.org), and social network, Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/226332979096/) was a great source of information for all.

Yes, it turned out to be a Tropical Storm but in no way did Irene get out of Jersey without showing her true colors! Many of us just waited it out, watched the Hydrograph on the NOAA site (http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=phi&gage=pppn4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1&toggles=10,7,8,2,9,15,6&type=2) and couldn’t believe how quickly the water was coming.

That DAM many felt was the problem. They may be right but the amount of rainfall was just too much for any river, reservoir or stream to handle. I was actually watching the Town Council meeting from September and witnessed our own Township Attorney, Michael Hubner, who has lived in Pequannock Township most of his life said that he never speaks out in public with his personal opinions on such but he felt so strongly about how much he just LOVES this Town. He stated that he will do whatever he needs to do to help our Township. A large round of applause came from the audience.

Now it’s 2 months after the Hurricane Irene, the rebuilding of the flooded homes in our township have been slow going. Homeowners are trying to get their children and families back in the HOMES that they LOVE. It’s been very difficult. The whole process going thru the ripping out. the cleanup, applications, waiting on the adjusters, FEMA etc… it’s just overwhelming.

This recent disaster touched many, it brought our Township together even more. Town Employees, Council members, Local Churches, Organizations and Dedicated Volunteers worked shifts to care for families they never met before, they helped with preparing meals, laundry and so much more just proved what a “WONDERFUL TOWN WE LIVE IN”.

As for the 900 homes in Pequannock Township that were damaged, some are living with no floors, furnaces, walls etc…but it’s their HOME a place that they LOVE! They will rebuild and be happy again, time will heal but it will never forget what happened. Something has to happen, we can not continue to go thru this every spring or even during unusual storms like Hurricane Irene.

Pequannock Township is a STORM READY COMMUNITY but that doesn’t stop the river from rising, the DAM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. The families affected need to know something is being done, not just talked about, debated about….they need to know that SOMETHING WILL BE DONE!  

Many know that my office was flooded and I recall my boss saying while we were pulling out furniture, “I’ll have it done in 2 months” well, today is 2 months and YES, it’s DONE!!

For more information Understanding Flooding on the Pompton River
Release Date: March 30, 2011 visit http://peqtwp.org/Cit-e-Access/news/index.cfm?NID=21809&TID=60&jump2=0 for a power point demonstration. Courtesy of Township of Pequannock.   

No response, so back I go to the window, building still shaking. Tere kept repeating, look at the water cooler, look ….the waters going up and down inside the cooler. We all looked in disbelief.  I said, “An Earthquake?” my manager Marie says…ya think!!  I quickly said, “Check on Facebook, you know if it was someone already posted it”. Tere and I jumped back on to the computers and as quick as we got on the stream of posting about the Earthquake flooded Facebook. I was proud, my youngest daughter was the first to post about the Earthquake before 800+ of my friends. Way to go, I’ve taught you well.

Now great minds, Tere and I quickly checked out youtube for Carole Kings hit “I feel the earth move under my feet”. You know i’ve been humming it all day since the Earthquake hit. I actually checked out the link I posted with the song, wow…what an excellent song! Friends, collegues, family members posted that they too felt the Earthquake, as far as Vermont, someone even mentioned up in Toronto they felt it. North Carolina had some and then chimes in my daughter…..NOPE, DIDN’T FEEL ANYTHING!

So where were you today when the Earthquake happened in New Jersey?  I was at my office at 142 Rt. 23, Pompton Plains, NJ, second floor in the resource room. 

What was I thinking when this was happening? My youngest was home alone, middle one was at work and oldest was out in California….now that’s funny!  She’s the one that DIDN’T FEEL THE EARTHQUAKE!

Happy House Buying!
Colleen
Century 21 Crest Real Estate
973-646-7419

 A little history about Chilton Memorial Hospital, Forrest C. Chilton II, MD, and his wife, Elizabeth, an RN, donated a tract of land on Newark-Pompton Turnpike to build a hospital in memory of their son whose life was lost in World War II. A 50-bed facility was built in 1954, and expanded to 119 beds in 1961.

In August 1968, a 40-acre tract was purchased one mile west of the Newark-Pompton Turnpike site and another building, the West Parkway facility, was dedicated November 20, 1971. The next goal was to combine the two buildings on West Parkway and construction of an expanded hospital began in1981. This included a new patient wing, new ground floor facility, and a complete remodeling of the original building. The “new” Chilton Memorial was dedicated in June 1984.

Today, Chilton Memorial is a 260-bed, acute-care, non-profit community hospital with approximately 1,300 employees. 
(info taken from http://www.chiltonhealth.org/index.php)

Ok, back to Derek Jeter, not only was Derek born at Chilton Memorial Hospital, so was I, just a couple years before him  
And, a couple years after him….around 22 years later, my youngest daughter was born at Chilton Memorial Hospital, the West Parkway facility on June 26. 

Now you’re thinking what’s this have to do with Real Estate….a lot.
 Where Chilton Memorial Hospital used to be located at 520 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains was converted into CONDO’S. The complex is called Crestwood Park. There are currently 1-2 Bedroom units FOR SALE at the Old Chilton Memorial Hospital building. Each unit is unique and those of us who have lived in Pequannock Township for most of our lives joke about the units where the morgue used to be. I try and just laugh that one off when I’m showing units in that side of the complex.

So there’s the connection between Derek Jeter, Pequannock and Pompton Plains and  Chilton Memorial Hospital!
Derek Jeter’s a true leader and role model. Way to GO!!

We are PROUD to say Derek Jeter was Born in PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP!

CM

I use this same analogy when searching online. I turn myself into the buyer. Where am I interested in looking for homes? What am I am looking for in a real estate agent? Where are homes reasonably priced? How are the school districts vs. other school districts?

If any buyers are just surfing and not asking a lot of questions, please feel free to call me. I will gladly walk you thru, step by step the process of buying your first home. From the wish list to the mortgage process to the closing. It’s an education purchasing a new home and the last thing you want is the stress, you’ll feel at ease knowing exactly what to expect.