Planting seeds of recovery

Lorraine Gogel choked back tears as she pointed out the many still-vacant houses nearly 10 months after Hurricane Sandy destroyed almost all of the 89 residences in Meadowmere Park, where she has lived for the past 30 years.

“The community was devastated,” she said.

Despite the destruction, 45-year resident Ruth Samuelson said she is hopeful for Meadowmere Park’s future. “We’re sticking together, and if we can help each other, we will,” she said of the community. “I think right now we’re just happy to see those who are back, but the shock hasn’t gone away because we worry that it will happen again. I feel guilty, too, because we’re back and there are some people who still aren’t.”

Samuelson added that the close-knit nature of the community — which keeps watch on its nearly 75 children, and gathers each holiday season to sing Christmas carols and light a small pine tree at the entrance to the neighborhood before heading back to the firehouse for hot cocoa — is the main reason she has decided not to leave, and instead to rebuild. “I love it here,” she said. “We look after each other.”

As a sign of Meadowmere Park’s ongoing recovery from the storm, residents, with the help of a local business, recently restored their nearly 30-year-old community garden, on East Avenue. The garden was first planted by the 40-member Meadowmere Park Civic Association, which meets once a month in Samuelson’s West Avenue home.

“People used to come from all over and dump their washers, dryers and typewriters here,” Samuelson said. “We decided to clean it out, dig it up and create a garden. It would be an empty lot if we didn’t do something with it.”

Steve Moscarella, the terminal manager at the Lawrence-based Motiva Enterprises, adjacent to Meadowmere Park, said that the company spent nearly $10,000 to help residents restore the garden. “We always try to do something for the community that makes them happy,” Moscarella said. “This is something they can smile about.”

Samuelson credits Moscarella’s benevolence for helping the community recover. “One phone call to Steve and he wants to help,” she said. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without him. He’s a great neighbor.”

Gogel said she is happy the garden has been restored. “I see a piece of land that was restored and recycled, and it’s a heck of a lot nicer than what it was,” she said. “It makes you smile when you come and go.”

There is also a new Meadowmere Park sign at the neighborhood’s entrance, designed by resident Katie Bennett. Nearly 30 children helped Bennett paint it.

Lawrence Middle School seventh-grader Brooke Kirchner said the sign has helped reunite her community. “Everyone’s been different since the storm,” she said. “They’re more cautious, but they’ve also been more friendly and cooperative. I think they realize they’re lucky for what they have, and it’s changed my point of view because I’m lucky to live in a neighborhood like this and to have friends and family who love me.”

Brooke’s mother, Diane, has owned a home in Meadowmere Park for 10 years. Her husband, Carl, grew up there. “Some people still aren’t here because they can’t come home, and some people moved out,” Diane said. “But I love it here, and that’s why I’ve chosen to stay.”