Schools Close Indefinitely, Comfort Stations Service Tri-Boro

Mostly all tri-boro roads were reopened Wednesday while the majority of residents remained without power for the second day since Tropical Storm Sandy tore through New Jersey, ripping down trees and electric poles.

Bloomingdale police Chief Joe Borell said schools were closed indefinitely as the buildings had no power. Trick-or-treating was also indefinitely postponed in the Borough of Bloomingdale, Borough of Kinnelon and Borough of Butler, with no new dates chosen. Kinnelon officials said there may be trick-or-treating this weekend with more information to follow later this week.

The Nightmare on Bailey Ave. event was also postponed, Borell said.

"At some point, the kids will be able to trick-or-treat in Bloomingdale," he said

Officials continued to set up comfort stations and shelter spaces for residents, though Borell said shelters should not be residents' first option.

"We're telling residents if people have somewhere where they can go and find somebody that has power, to stay with them," he said.

In Bloomingdale, comfort and recharging stations were set up at Bloomingdale Borough Hall, at 101 Hamburg Turnpike, and the Bloomingdale Firemen's Hall located next door. After 3 p.m., those stations turned into overnight shelters for those in need. But Borell said both the comfort stations and shelters will only be open to Bloomingdale residents and those who want to stay overnight must call the police department at 973-838-0158 to make arrangements before arriving.

The Borough of Butler has set up a comfort and recharging station with a limited amount of sheltering available at the Butler police station. Kinnelon has set up a comfort station and shelter at the Kiel School. About 45 residents visited the shelter before nightfall Tuesday after first opening in the morning.

Borell wanted to warn residents to secure their generators outdoors.

"We've had a rash of generators stolen last night," he said.

In addition to stolen generators, Borell said gas seemed to be stolen as well. He said residents should be cautious and chain up or tie the generators to something so that they cannot be taken.

Kinnelon and Butler police said they had not yet had any reports of stolen generators. Butler police Capt. Ciro Chimento said the borough has been rather quiet in the days following the storm.

"We've been orderly and calm," he said.

Some roads that had been closed Tuesday were opened as of Wednesday morning. In Butler, Kiel Avenue was reopened and Kinnelon police were planning to reopen Fayson Lakes Road Wednesday as well. In Bloomingdale, Borell said "all streets are passable at this time."

Read more Tri-Boro Patch coverage of Tropical Storm Sandy here.

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