Valley Stream cleans out from snowstorm

Village highway crews spent nearly two days cleaning up from this past weekend's blizzard, which dumped more than a foot of snow on Valley Stream and the rest of Long Island.

By the time the last snowflakes fell on Monday morning, the community was under a white blanket. Residents began digging out their sidewalks and driveways. But high winds continued throughout the day, adding to snow drifts that were already several feet high.

Valley Stream Highway Supervisor Tim Leahy said the clean-up went slow, but by Monday afternoon plow trucks had been down every road in the village, totaling about 90 miles. After that, highway crews tackled the parking lots.

Highway crews began salting the roads at 11 a.m. Sunday morning, Leahy said, and plowing began about 2:30 p.m.

Minimal power outages were reported in Valley Stream with less than 100 customers out at its peak on Sunday evening. Train service on the Long Island Rail Road was shut down entirely, and remained suspended through Monday, but limited service was restored Tuesday and most lines were back to a normal schedule by Wednesday.

Despite the heavy, snow people still went to the Green Acres Mall and surrounding stores on Sunday for post-Christmas shopping and returns.