Clara Burnside, of New London Road, didn't intend to let Hurricane Irene stop her from attending church Sunday morning but the storm was a couple steps ahead of her.
Burnside wasn't able to drive far on Route 1 before police officers directed her to turn around because the road was blocked by a fallen tree.
Shortly after arriving back home and parked safely in the garage, the top part of a large hickory nut tree lining her property snapped and fell into the driveway.
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Lucky for her, she is surrounded by family. She spent the evening playing cards with her son, Matt Burnside, who lives a couple doors down and her brother-in-law, Bob Brasher, of Flanders Road, promptly chainsawed the tree to pieces the next day.
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