Patersonians in need of warm dinner and lunch are asked to visit East Side High School, where hot meals will be provided; in 2 branches of Paterson Public Library individuals will be able to charge their phones or other chargeable device while remaining warm inside a heated library room with books.

Paterson Public School will offer lunch and dinner service at East Side High School for those who are in urgent need of warm meals. If you are reading this message, it is likely that you will not need the service, but do pass along the information to those who are in need of this vital resource. Yesterday, your correspondent, while passing near McBride Avenue, witnessed a couple pillaging through a trash can in an attempt to recover food — no one should be in that state.

The high school will be open from 12pm to 6pm to service individuals and families; the service will remain, wrote Alex Mendez, a Paterson Board of Education member, ” as long as power is out in the City”.

500 lunches and 500 dinner will be available.

In related news, Cindy Czesak, director of Paterson Public Library, has announced that 2 branches of Paterson library will be open on Friday November 2nd, 2012 and Saturday November 3rd, 2012; the South Paterson Branch located at 930 Main Street and Totowa Branch located at 405 Union Avenue; both branches will open from 9am to 5pm. Heat, power for charging mobile phones, and books will be available to visitors.

Wi-Fi and Internet may be provided if both services are in working condition, but it is not very certain.

These are two important services for hundreds of Paterson residents who remain without power for the last 2 days and counting.

Paterson Public Schools, all of them, will be closed Friday November 2nd, 2012.