Church bells and blizzard. Just after this, the screen fell out of my window.
Church bells and blizzard. Just after this, the screen fell out of my window.
I went out in the snow… for a minute. My goodness it is crazy out. Update on the Atwells Avenue gas leak, they are still working, Atwells is still closed.
Share your storm photos in our Flickr Group.



I walked around downtown for a little bit around 1pm this afternoon and took a few photos. Share your storm photos with us in our Flickr Group.

The last RIPTA buses of the day were making their way into Kennedy Plaza, all “Out of Service.”

Kennedy Plaza was pretty desolate.

Storm accumulation forecast from Right Weather.
↑ Right Weather has updated their storm map with higher totals than the one above!
Updates
Amtrak Northeast Service Advisories.
BREAKING: Gov Chafee has restricted travel on I-95, I-195, I-295, RI 146, RI 24 starting at 5pm. #snowRI
— Ted Nesi (@tednesi) February 8, 2013
Travel bans go into effect in Massachusetts and Connecticut Friday at 4pm. Authorized personnel only on roadways.
Service NYP to BOS disrupted 2/8 due to predicted winter storm. Some connecting services also impacted. Details at amtrak.com.
— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNEC) February 7, 2013
National Grid Power Outage Map
Report an Outage: 1-800-465-1212
For text alerts send STORM to NGRID (64743)
Please be advised that cars left on the road in PVD will be towed. Just one car left on a street can keep it from being plowed. #PVDsnow
— Angel Taveras (@Angel_Taveras) February 8, 2013
Mass. bans all road travel at 4 pm: www2.turnto10.com/weather/2013/f… #NemoRI
— Rhode Island EMA (@RhodeIslandEMA) February 8, 2013
State of Emergency declared in Rhode Island.
Blizzard Warning 6am Friday to 1pm Saturday.
The short message about tomorrow (and Saturday, and probably Sunday too) is STAY HOME!
Of course, I’m planning to go to work for a while Friday, so practice what I preach, not so much.
What you need to know.
We’ve been a little too busy to post this week. While we prepare for the mother of all snowblogging on Friday, check out the ProJo’s look back at the Blizzard of ’78, 35 years ago this week.
This police officer on her phone in her cruiser was no help to me as I was forced to play a real life game of Frogger crossing Atwells and Dean this morning when the traffic lights were out due to the storm.
The officer at Atwells and the Service Road was only slightly more helpful.
A reader submits photos and commentary on common snow removal issues along North Main. Just a little extra effort would save hundreds of people from huge inconvenience and safety concerns.
Here are some snowy sidewalk pics that illustrate the not-my-job mindset. I am glad the long sidewalk along North Burial Ground on North Main Street has been getting plowed lately, although when the snow is deep enough to bog down their little tractor, they simply fuggedaboutit. But how hard would it be to drive that little tractor a few yards farther along and clear the traffic island at Cemetary Street?

On a side note, this intersection is a fine example of inappropriate high-speed design. Oh yeah, there is a stop sign, but most drivers scoot right on through and merge into N. Main at full speed, with heads turned left to check approaching traffic as if they were at a highway on-ramp instead of a crosswalk. Also, note how the sidewalk on the traffic island is where the plow driver who clears the lawyer’s lot dumps snow.

I guess it a dead-serious matter of turf and good fences between Parks Dept and Public Works, (or RIDOT? Or the Feds? N Main is US 1, you know) that keeps the Parks Dept. tractor from plowing all the way to Branch Ave. It might take 90 seconds and cause huge paperwork and budget issues.
Yes, yes, the law says you have 8 hours until after the first light after it stops snowing to clear your sidewalk, blah, blah, blah… But, there is the law, and then there is sensibility and being a good neighbor.

Of course, I had no doubt, even though they are not open, and not required to do so, per usual, Angelo’s sidewalk is clear. It always is, it is like the sunrise, you know it will happen. This is an example of being a good neighbor and a good business person. This simple act creates amazing goodwill from me for Angelo’s.

Up the block, The Old Canteen has been really good with the few snowfalls we’ve had this winter. That plow pulling out of the lot, the driver of that plow is the one who shoveled the sidewalk, I watched him finish up, put his shovel in his truck, and leave. Old Canteen obviously has an arrangement for both their parking lot and their sidewalks to be clear; satisfying the needs of their customers in cars and on foot obviously makes good business sense.
The public should avoid the danger of falling through pond ice and should stay off all Providence ponds.
I went out for a walk last night during the storm. Here are some of the photos I took.