The Diner That Stayed Open for the Storm

When a big ice storm knocked out power across our county in January, the only place with lights on was the Starlite Diner on Route 9, which has its own generator.

The owner, a woman named Gail, kept it open for three days straight. She let people charge their phones, warm up and sleep in the booths. She made pot after pot of coffee and soup and didn't charge anyone who couldn't pay.

Families played cards at the counter. A man brought his guitar and played old country songs. Kids did their homework by the light of the pie case. Truck drivers stuck on the highway came in and stayed the night.

When the power came back on, people kept coming in, just to say thank you. Somebody put up a sign by the door: "Gail is our hero." It's still there. She's too humble to take it down, and we're too grateful to let her.