OPEN THREAD: How are the streets and sidewalks in your village?

by Greg Reibman | Feb 8, 2013 | Newton | 25 comments

Photo courtesy of Max Goldsmith

Report in here.

25 Comments

Jerry Reilly on February 8, 2013 at 2:34 pm
There’s just enough snow on the ground at the moment for two 10 year olds to sled down our hill.
Chris Steele on February 8, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Just did the first round on the driveway and part of the sidewalk. Heavy and wet. Suspect we may be in for trouble if/when the temp drops.
Julia Malakie on February 8, 2013 at 7:17 pm
Wondering whether to head home to Newton from Lowell around 10pm (under the media exemption!) so I can shovel overnight and tomorrow morning, or stay in the building tonight since I’m working a night shift tomorrow too. Afraid if I wait til Saturday midnight to shovel I’ll have a 4ft wall of frozen slush in front of my driveway.
Anyone who can tell, let me know how roads in Newton are later. Thanks!
mgwa on February 8, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Some flickering lights in the Highlands.
Kim on February 8, 2013 at 11:02 pm
I wouldn’t know. I”m not stepping foot outside of my house until tomorrow afternoon. It looks awesome out there though!
BOB BURKE on February 9, 2013 at 7:50 am
This is a much needed deep snow cover that we haven’t seen in the last few years. We are taking care of a friend’s dog, so I’ve gone out periodically to clear a path for when she has to go out. It was much easier shoveling this morning than last evening because the snow is so much lighter even if the drifting complicates things a bit.
Emily Norton on February 9, 2013 at 8:59 am
Wow there is a lot of snow out there. More importantly however, is Starbucks open? I’ve trapped with 3 boys … I really need a latte.
- Greg Reibman on February 9, 2013 at 9:20 am
  Can’t. Open. Front. Door. Ugh.
- Greg Reibman on February 9, 2013 at 9:24 am
  Can’t. Open. Back. Door. Either.
- Gail Spector on February 9, 2013 at 9:23 am
  My street looks great but I can’t even begin to contemplate how I’m going to get to it! There’s more than three feet of snow on our deck.
Jerry Reilly on February 9, 2013 at 9:29 am
“How are the streets and sidewalks ?” As best as I can tell by looking out my window, they’ve disappeared without a trace.
Tricia on February 9, 2013 at 9:57 am
Same here – neither door would open more than a crack. Luckily we have a 9-year-old we could wedge through the crack who used the shovel we left on the porch (I’m looking at you, Mr. Reibman) to clear a path.
- Greg Reibman on February 9, 2013 at 10:26 am
  If you’re close enough to look at me you should be close enough to send that 9 year old over to help.
- Greg Reibman on February 9, 2013 at 10:35 am
  Here’s an update Alderman Ciccone sent to aldermen this morning…
  NSTAR reported 103 outages at 3am this morning. It appears of those outages power has either been restored or is in the process so that is very good news. With over 20 plus inches of snow the city is in remarkable shape. The governor has eased on the driving ban letting folks who work at convenient stores, supermarkets, gas stations, medical facilities, etc, being allowed to drive to work. The ban however is still in effect for all others so please stay off the road until the governor lifts the ban. The plows have all the main roads cleared and at least one lane open on secondary roads.
  Police, fire and ems have been fully staffed and have had no problems other than getting up some of the roads with hills which they have had to park their vehicles and walk up hills. The DPW is accompanying all emergency apparatus to calls for emergency service to plow if necessary. It appears to be almost over for accumulating snow except for one more band coming through Worcester County and is heading east at a slow pace. Commissioner Turocy has said this band will come through early this afternoon with steady accumulating snow turning to flurries late in the afternoon into the early evening hours. No more tree calls as of 9am and senior services is still available even though the senior center is closed. The buildings dept reports all city buildings have heat and power. Again all emergencies are to be reported to 9-1-1 and calls for service to the 3-1-1 system or by calling customer service at (617)796-1000.
  Just an added note some folks are having trouble opening doors because of the amount of snow piled up behind them. Chief Proia states the fire department will remove snow which had folks trapped inside houses but will not shovel walkways etc. The next scheduled conference call will be at 1pm and I will update any further info after the meeting.
Tricia on February 9, 2013 at 10:37 am
But you’re forgetting the other key element besides the 9-year-old – shovel on porch, not in distant, snowed-in garage.
- Greg Reibman on February 9, 2013 at 10:42 am
  Yep. BTW, shovel and door have been liberated! (just not in that order) No nine-year-olds were harmed in the process.
Lisap on February 9, 2013 at 10:55 am
@Emily Norton – if you can make your way to my house I’ll make you a latte. The only thing I stocked up on was coffee from Peet’s cause there’s no way I’m going to be snowed in with less than a 2 week supply.
Comm. Ave. looks very good but I can’t see the carriage road over the mounds of snow.
mgwa on February 9, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Thanks for the update from Alderman Ciccone. I’ll have no trouble staying off the streets, since I can’t find my car 😉
I assume that the guys who do my shoveling will show up eventually; fortunately, I have no need to leave the house before Monday.
Mike Striar on February 9, 2013 at 1:45 pm
I’d like to thank Mayor Warren and all the City workers for doing an outstanding job handling this storm. From communication with the residents, to maintaining public safety throughout the storm, to clearing the roads… A job well done!!!
Jerry Reilly on February 9, 2013 at 4:44 pm
I’m happy homeowner. Our tiny Spring St is nearly always one of the last streets in the city to get plowed – sometimes a day or two after the snow stops. It’s only a few hours after the snow stopped and we’re nicely plowed. The city indeed seemed to keep on top of this humongous storm – good job!
A tip of the hat goes to Jerry (no relation 😉 ) the plow driver who just took care of business on Spring St.
Jerry Reilly on February 9, 2013 at 6:44 pm
BTW, I loved MAx Goldsmith’s photo (above). It takes a brave and/or foolhardy many to ride a unicycle in the snow.
Emily Norton on February 10, 2013 at 3:29 pm
@Lisap I’ll remember that next time! Tho I think it’s a 2 mile walk, I’d have to REALLY want that latte… in other news I have to congratulate Newton on a plowing job well done… especially compared to Waltham which was a mess at 8:30 this morning, High St was super snowy, I was one of several cars that got stuck when we were stopped at a red light on an incline.
Wendy Schapiro on February 11, 2013 at 10:43 am
Needham Street sidewalks are, for the most part, a disaster. There is NO way to get more than a few yards without having to walk in the street, and said street is going to become a lake fairly shortly as the rain picks up and the snow starts to melt as the temperatures rise. Then tonight overnight, it will become a skating rink. To quote my lucky California compatriots, “No bueno!”
Doug Haslam on February 11, 2013 at 12:38 pm
I was stuck in NYC until last night (was supposed to return Friday, got 1st post-storm train out Sunday afternoon. A little driving around today, about as expected- main roads are passable, but outer lanes are narrow. Smaller streets vary, but I have been able to get around. Sidewalks? It varies. A lot of our neighbors cleared their walks, but other sidewalks are simply plowed in and will have to wait until some melting occurs.
Looking at the weather report, looks like we wil get that melting over the course of the week. I’m more concerned about making sure storm drains are exposed so the streets drain (Nonantum Place is typically very lucky in that regard- great drainage to the river).
mgwa on February 11, 2013 at 1:43 pm
This morning it took me 1.5 hours to drive 6 miles on Rte. 9. And my small street only has 1 lane open.