Sandy 4 Sandy: LBI Vigil for Peace reset due to northeaster

Photo by David Wyrsch
Pockets of flooding and floating debris are
found on LBI after another northeaster.

When Kate Schulze-Bahn, coordinator of the Sandy 4 Sandy: Vigil for Peace, received phone calls from friends and family members on Long Beach Island that urged her to postpone the event once again due to inclement weather, she decided to officially cancel the occasion. The candlelight vigil set to remember victims of Superstorm Sandy and the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., which was rescheduled to take place at the James “Moose” E. Morrison memorial gazebo in Barnegat Light, on Saturday, Dec. 29, is no longer happening.

Schulze-Bahn, who lives a few hours away from LBI in Chester Springs, Pa., said she has handed over her position as the event’s coordinator to local residents who she suspects will be able to better understand the community’s situation. She said she was unaware of this week’s recent storm, which left pockets of flooding and floating debris along the 18-mile island. But with the forecast calling for more rain and perhaps some snow, she thought the weather was too unpredictable this time of year to encourage people to travel to the area.

“You guys are just getting nailed left and right; better safe than sorry,” she told The SandPaper. “We don’t need another tragedy on top of a tragedy. This time of year the weather is so iffy, you cannot predict it through January. The weather is getting crazier. It’s a shame.”

A few dozen people who had not received the memo about the event’s initial rescheduling had showed up for the vigil at the Barnegat Lighthouse on Friday, Dec. 21. Schulze-Bahn said she felt sorry they had to brave the cold and wind, but was happy they were able to connect with each other despite the circumstances.

“The people that actually met there still had a little prayer and a little vigil anyway, so it was kind of nice. They were in good spirits; nobody was mad. They were excited to come out for it the next time,” Schulze-Bahn claimed. “It was a positive thing all around, and I think everybody involved in it was doing it for the right reason. It wasn’t for a show, or for popularity, or to see who could like another page on Facebook. I think everybody involved was genuinely going for the right reason.”

Area residents are hoping to reschedule the vigil for sometime during the spring or summer, when the weather is more manageable. The event’s Facebook page will continue to inform participants of the event’s happening in the future.

“At some point I think we should still do it,” remarked Schulze-Bahn. “It’s the worst feeling to have to cancel something like that, but weather is weather. We just don’t want (the victims) to think we forget them.”

To keep up with the event’s latest activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/SupportSandyVictims?fref=ts.

This article was published in The SandPaper.