In the March 30 issue of the Leader a story about more than 20 local contractors heading to New Orleans to perform relief work was featured on the front page. The following is a recap of the crew’s experiences.
     On Tuesday, April 3, 23 contractors boarded a flight headed to New Orleans and after arriving at 10:30 a.m., went right to work. Their first job was known as the President Bush house because it was known that the President had visited the home twice promising relief and a new home for its owner.
     Nine people worked on the house but unfortunately, it wasn’t immediately ready for windows, doors and vinyl siding, the Maine crew’s specialty. “When we arrived there was a four man framing crew on site being paid by Catholic Charities. They explained that they had told Catholic Charities that the house would not be ready for us and that they were sorry, but were doing all they could do,” said Roccy Risbara, of Risbara Bros. Construction in Scarborough.
     He said the crew immediately went to work, tearing off the rear enclosed porch and then framing the new porch, walls and ceiling. “They thought with our help it could be ready for doors, windows and siding some time late the following week. We accomplished that work in two days and started the work we had intended to do late Thursday afternoon,” Risbara said.
     He said the crew accomplished everything they intended to do on the house except finishing the front wall with siding because the local crew asked them not to because at the last minute they decided to remove and replace the concrete porch on the front.
     Risbara said the Maine crew with the help of the other crew was able to complete six other jobs. They were unable to complete two jobs because Catholic Charities had not readied the homes.
     Some special, added help came from Risbara’s father and friend who drove 12 hours from Florida to help out with the effort. They came with a large tool trailer and additional tools. “We could not have done it without those tools and without the excellent team work by everyone who participated,” Risbara said.
     He went on to praise the crews who helped, “We went to New Orleans to work and that is what we did. It was amazing what we the boys from Maine accomplished.” In total, the group installed 78 windows, 62 squares of siding and 12 exterior doors.
     Risbara said the crew got a lot of thank yous for their work and though it was frustrating at times, called the experience rewarding.