And now the fun begins ... shoveling and sledding

Adults were digging out - and kids were just digging it - after a storm left 13 inches of snow in our area overnight Wednesday through Thursday.

"Our plows have been out since between 10 and 11 last night," said Mike Boller, acting superintendent for the East Rockaway DPW. "We worked in white-out conditions. We are still clearing village parking lots and sidewalks." Boller reminds people not to shovel their snow back into the street.

The National Weather Service reports an average of 13.3 inches of snow fell on Long Island.

Public schools in our area are closed. Nassau Community College announced a late start for 1 p.m.

Officials advise people to only travel in an emergency.

Two local mothers brought their children and their friends to a small hill in Bay Park -- but it was enough to slide down. "I feel like a kid again," said one mother, who slid down into a mound of powdery snow, laughing. The park, with much of the fields untouched, looked picturesque and serene in the early afternoon.

LYNBROOK:

The snow removal process went long and slow for several people who had to shovel and plow around their cars, homes and businesses. But many pushed through the white stuff to travel to work and open their businesses.

"We're here," said Pat Ciampi of Greis Park Recreation Center on Horton Avenue. "We are doing our best and the center is open for business."

Ciampi added that the center's maintenance staff had started plowing early to clear the walkways and parking lot. She said that though the

center was open, she was ready for the snow to end.

Frank Scibelli, owner of the Italian American Delicatessen at 528 Merrick Road, was also tired of the snowflakes. He said some of the roads looked terrible. "The roads are not plowed right," he said. "They keep blocking you in with the snow."

Scibelli was busy serving food to several customers who were cold and restless from the snow, including Anthony Lee, a Malverne resident who works in the village. "Sometimes, people dump on your property with the snow," he said. "The snow gets piled up more and more on the property. It's a lot of work. You shovel out and [the snow] comes right back in."

Over on Union Avenue, a resident who identified herself only as Rita M. was working with a team of three people to clear out snow from a large

pathway. By the early afternoon, Rita anticipated that she had shoveled and cleared out snow from three houses' driveways. "I try to make a dent [with shoveling] because the snow freezes overnight," she said.

And Todd Kshonz, who operates a dental practice on Union Avenue, was ready for another day of patients despite the wintery mix. "Lynbrook has done a fine job with the snow removal," he said. "They got me up and running."

Nassau County Non-Emergency Hotline (888)684-4274

Nassau Red Cross (516)747-3500