Within days of this terrible tempest, the restoration effort had begun. Sandy forced Long Islanders to bend, but we would not break. We would rebuild.

My wife and I will walk the Long Beach boardwalk again, now with our children. I will run again at Levy Preserve. Long Island is our home, and no storm can take it from us.

Scott Brinton is senior editor of the Bellmore and Merrick Heralds and an adjunct professor at the Hofstra University Graduate Journalism Program. Comments? SBrinton@

liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203. Brinton’s profile and posts can be found at facebook.com/scottabrinton.