Woodcliff residents celebrate Labor Day with fireworks display

The storm that ripped through the Woodcliff community left uncertainty for many residents.

No power, downed trees, broken windows and siding that looked like swiss cheese are just a few of the problems that homeowners had to overcome.

What followed was the coming together of a community. For the approximately 3,000 residents, the only thing they seemed to have was each other.

Groups of residents banded together, going from home to home, cleaning up debris, patching roofs and clearing trees.

One such group was led by Jim and Kathy Griess and Don and Carla Mahrt.

“It was neighbors helping neighbors. Everybody in some way helped one�“another out,” said Kathy Griess, a Woodcliff Lakes Board member, “I think it really brought all of us together.”

Residents worked tirelessly over the following week, and still, it appeared as though they had not made much of a dent.

The lakeside community had to postpone its annual Fourth of July celebration, because there was still too much debris in the water as well as near homes.

The result became a summer�“long quest to rebuild and restore Woodcliff to its former beauty.

Sunday marked a milestone for the residents as they celebrated Labor Day weekend with a bang.

“We had a hog roast in appreciation of all of the folks who helped us clean up,” Griess said. “We had horse shoes and then fireworks.”

Besides being a lot of fun, the day’s events became a community building event as well. Griess felt it was a chance to get to know your neighbors a little better.

“There are a lot of homes out here and you just don’t get to meet everybody,” Griess said.

While the celebration marks the end of summer, there is still plenty of work to do.

“It might take a couple of years,” Griess said, “We just don’t know.”

Griess also talked about the work being done by RePlant Woodcliff, a group of residents led by Carla Mahrt who are working on projects, fundraisers and grants to replant trees and landscape throughout Woodcliff.

“We would just like to thank the community as a whole,” Griess said, “The Red Cross came out, Saunders County REACT, the Cedar Bluffs Fire Department, we couldn’t have done it without those folks.”

Griess was also quick to thank all of the area businesses that have assisted in the cleanup effort by donating equipment and labor in an effort to restore Woodcliff.