Tony and family are fine, but, sadly, his business he worked so hard to build is destroyed. Phone service was restored an hour ago, but he dosen't know when power will be back on. He wanted me to let his friends here know what's going on and tell you he'll be back in touch as soon as possible. So glad Gary canceled his trip!

Let's all wish our friend the best!


Russ

Its a sad state of affairs in Tony's area due to the hurricane...The main thing is he and family are ok...I hope he can rebuild and get on his feet asap without delay......
Thanx for the update Capt Russ

Russ:

Thanks for letting us know about Tony. I was really concerned about the hurricane staying in one place for such an extended time.

At least the family (and Tony) are okay. Hope he had insurance but don't know how that works in Mexico.

We have so much to be thankful for.

Regards, RICE (The Lone Arranger)

When I talked with Tony the day before the hurricane he said he had a bad feeling about this one and so did I. He also said he was confident that the way the storm was tracking it would hit them hard and he would loose the restaurant's roof at the very least. Thankfully, he and his family are safe.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

This is really SAD news. I spoke with Tony perhaps only a few short hours before Wilma struck Cozemel. Realizing that he and his family live only 10 blocks away from his restaurant, I hope there was significantly less damage to his home. Our prayers are with you Tony. - Scott

Tony ... Happy to hear about the family, sorry to hear about the business ... our prayers are with you, friend ...
t.

This is saddening, but at least Tony and his family, is safe. Let's not lie about it, rebuilding a business lost in the storm is very difficult.

Tony I am glad you are ok, I hope you have the strengh and courage to make it all work again. I wish you best of luck.
Theodore

Russ is there any way we can help out by sending a donation to help Tony get through this ? I'd imagine things will be very hard for Tony and his family until he can get back on his feet financially again.

Tony,
our thoughts and prayers are with you; please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you out of this difficult situation.

Tony, I echo the sentiments of everyone here. Glad you and you're family are OK and I'm very sorry to hear of the loss of your business. Take care.

Tony,
Glad to hear that you and family are OK.

Our prayers are with you.

Tony.

The best for you and your family.

Chico

Nigel, I really want to do something for our friend and I'm sure others do also, besides you. Any ideas? Maby we can ask our friend Gary to be the "banker", since we all know and trust him and he was on his way to visit
Tony. Do you think that one card with all participants, but no individual amounts would be the way to go? Given and the extent of the damage, I'm not sure about bank openings, wire transfers or any of that.

Anybody got ideas?

It would be REALLY NICE if we could do something for our friend, together.

Russ

Sorry to hear about the hurricane. I don't look TV and never hear radio since 3 years. We never had a hurricane or tornado here in Germany - only storms. It's very sad to hear that Cozumel was hit by a second hurricane within one month.

Luckily, Tony, your family survived. Once more you know how valuable life is. I hope to hear good news from Cozumel as soon as possible.

Let me know when you're having an account number for any contribution. I can't give much but that's more than nothing!!!

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Greetings from Frankfurt (Germany),
Sheriff ;-)

I agree that we should get a fund together. Whether he rebuilds or not, there will be tough days ahead.
DonM

Russ,
If I can remember well, I think Tony buys/sells sometimes on ebay, so he might have paypal.

Anyway paypal could be the fastest and easiest way.
We did that a couple of years ago with Uncle Dave as banker to buy a keaboard for someone who desparatedly needed one..
worked great.

Anyway let me hear, you can count me in..
Fred

If anyone can set something up (like paypal) for Tony, count me in.
Always willing to help out a friend in need.
Please keep us posted as to how & where we can contribute something towards our friend's needs.

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...shboom

The phones must be out again in Cozumel. I've been calling Tony 3 to 5 times a day for the past 3 days and there has been no answer. As for sending money or transferring funds to Tony in Mexico, at this point nothing is operable on the island, and from what I just saw on Fox News the only area airport that is open to limited flights was Cancun. Cozumel was nearly flattened and very little news information is coming from the island.

When I reach Tony, I will make your wishes known and see what his reaction is to this very generous gesture. I'm really not sure what Tony needs at this point, but when I find out, you will be the first to know and I will do my level best to help him in any way possible.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Just saw on the TV news....22,000 tourists still stuck & stranded in Cancun.......the destruction there is totaly devestating.

Gary, I tried to call Tony yesterday and today, also. Guess I was really lucky a few days ago. Phones hadn't been up more than an hour when I talked to him. I get the same fast busy signal I got when I tried to reach friends in New Orleans right after that storm.

Let's keep our fingers crossed. I'll keep trying to call, and I'm sure we'll be one of his early contacts when that's possible.

Do you think it makes sense to mail checks to Gary ASAP? That way, however we decide to get the help to him, it will all be in one place and can be done quickly.

I'm in, however we decide to do it.

Hope someone hears something positive soon.
Something like this makes me really appreciate ALL of my "long distance" friends here.

Russ

I am eager to help, but I'd be afraid to mail checks or anything else to Mexico until we hear from Tony. I understand it is total chaos down there.
DonM

I finally got through to Tony this afternoon and was relieved to hear his voice. His restaurant was a total loss. The roof caved in, the poles that held up the roof snapped off like match sticks and the concrete walls caved in. He was able to salvage some of the restaurant equipment, at least one freezer and a few other things, but overall, the place is gone.

Tony's home was spared, he has enough food and water to last about 4 to 5 more days, and the electrical power is still out and probably will be for quite some time. His home had some water damage, but he said it was not that bad.

He says he's going to rebuild the restaurant, and currently trying to dig up financing. The place was not insured, and he said the reason it was not was the cost of hurricane insurance there would equal the cost of the entire building with just a couple years of premiums. He estimates the cost of rebuilding at about $60,000 and says he's currently working on trying to obtain financing.

When I told him that we were all worried about him and wanted to send some cash in his direction to keep him afloat, he was very grateful. However, do not send checks directly to him because the way things are going he will never receive them. His bank is located in Dallas, Texas and when I talk with him tomorrow he will provide me with information for the transfer of funds directly to his account.

He said he really misses everyone here and hopes to be back on line in a couple weeks if the electricty is restored. I offered to fly down and help him with the clean-up and he said the airport just opened today, and while he really appreciated the offer, there is very little anyone can do at this point. Additionally, there would be no place to stay, no food, no water, no electricity, and he felt fortunate to have telephone service.

I'll update the post in the next few days.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Gar, many thanks for keeping us all informed of Tony's currently situation. If you talk to him again soon, please let him know that my sister Kathy and her husband (who stopped in at his club to meet him only a couple of months ago) send their best. Gar, please keep us informed on how/when donations can be made to help Tony get back on his feet again. We all MISS ya Tony ! - Scott

Gary thanx for your efforts in contacting Tony and updating us his current state of affairs in Mexico which is very sad to hear....we all await his progress & even in some small way how we can help a fellow SZ Friend & Musician...

Gary thanx for your efforts in contacting Tony and updating us his current state of affairs in Mexico which is very sad to hear....we all await his progress & even in some small way how we can help a fellow SZ Friend & Musician...

That's GREAT NEWS, Gary. I've been trying all day to reach Tony. Evidently, there is a limited number of circuits.

I'll be looking forward to hearlin how we can get some help to him!

Russ

Thanks for keeping us informed, Gary!
I feel so helpless from here where I live. Please, let me know if any cash transfer is possible and how it'll work!!!
Best regards, Danny