Locals surprised about school closure; getting used to snow
(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 1/21)
By Mike Lauterborn
© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
1/21/11
Fairfield, CT – The automatic phone message had become all too familiar: “All public and parochial schools in the Town of Fairfield are closed.” The notice had been spurred by the latest snowstorm, which arrived overnight and had deposited about five inches by the time it ceased around 8 a.m. Friday.
Patch stepped out to speak to locals in the Beach Area, who were busy shoveling or trying to make their way out. They expressed surprise about the school closure – the district’s third official snow day – and had mixed emotions about the snowy winter we’ve been experiencing.
“I think we’re in the every-five-or-six-day weather pattern,” said Art McAdams, out for a morning walk. “Once it’s established, it seems it’s pretty regular. I’m not sick of it. It breaks things up. It’s a real winter, though I like warm winters in between, too.”
Jim Kreitler, who was shoveling out the end of his driveway, said, “I love this, like an old New England winter that I remember from thirty years ago. I love snow. I look out the window at night at it and get excited, though it does make you appreciate the summer. I’ve just got to find something for the kids to do.”
Nancy Murphy was out walking her Welsh terrier Gibby, who was excitedly scurrying about and burrowing his nose in the snow. The mother of four said, “I’m surprised today was called as a snow day. It seems like the kids know in advance and are counting on it, and it affects their school work. They stay up late. I don’t think these are hazardous conditions. It’s nice powder snow. I have a doctor’s appointment later, but I might walk.”
Brian Dolzani, a father of two, who was scooping the powdery accumulation from his drive, said, “I’m surprised school is closed today. I think a delay would have been appropriate. My son Elliot wants to go to school – he likes gym.”
About the snow, Dolzani added, “I like a snowy winter. It’s way different than the past four or five winters. Mother Nature’s making up for it. As I skier, I don’t mind the snow. I just don’t like the cold. I know the temperature is going to really drop over the weekend, too, and that’s going to be painful.”
Nancy Peterson was also trying to make a dent in the snow. “I’m not sick of it; I just don’t know where to put it. It looks beautiful, especially in the trees, but I don’t like driving in it.”
Stuart Oravetz was shoveling out his mom’s driveway and seemed to have accepted the frequent snowfalls as the norm. “This year I’m so not affected by it. I’m just going with the flow and listening to the weather reports. I don’t mind the shoveling but I think next year we’ll invest in a snow blower.”
Oravetz’s mom Terry, headed to her job, said, “I work at Housatonic Community College. They had a delayed opening. We have lots of work to do – it’s the first day of classes for the semester. The snow is pretty to look at but it’s very disruptive. We’ve had more time off this January than any other year that I can remember.”
Husband and wife team Skip and Carol Hayden were making quick work of the snow piled in their drive.
“This kind of snow isn’t bad. It’s light and fluffy. You have to get to it before the sun melts the bottom layer though,” said Carol.
“I could do without the snow, but it keeps us in shape shoveling. I’m retired now. When I worked, it was much worse. I’m used to it,” said Skip.
Bob Foote, who was just returning home from the gas station, had pretty much had it with the snow. “I’m ready to go to Florida. I just got gas for my snow blower again to do my driveway again. It slows up business and now I have to go figure out how to keep ice off my overhang which drips onto my front porch.”
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