By Brian Zanzonico
"This is unbelievable," said the 66-year-old Franklin Square resident. "It's the biggest since the winter of 1996."
Miano recalled how, 10 years ago, he had to chop his way through ice after freezing temperatures piggybacked a fierce snowstorm and rendered traditional tools of the trade - snow shovel and snow blower - powerless. Watching from his window as close to two feet of snow fell last Saturday and Sunday, Miano held out hope that the hoes and heavy dirt shovels used to clear the way after the storm of '96 would not have to be taken out of retirement.
"If I didn't have this snow blower, I wouldn't even be able to move this snow as it is," he said.
Franklin Square and Elmont were paralyzed last weekend as snow accumulations exceeded meteorologists' predictions of 8 to 12 inches. Main thoroughfares such as Hempstead Turnpike were devoid of traffic as Town of Hempstead snow crews worked throughout the weekend to prepare the roads for the work week.
By Monday morning, main roads were clear but side streets were still covered and dotted with ice patches. As a precaution, local schools used their first snow day of the school year and kept their doors closed.
While most children let out a collective cheer when schools announced closings, some of their parents sighed. Clare, of Elmont, a single mother with two school-age children, said she had to call in sick to work because she couldn't get a sitter on such short notice. She said she learned of the school closings at almost 10 on Sunday night. "Kids love it, but it's a nightmare for parents," she said Monday as she put her shovel to work for the first time since the storm started Saturday afternoon.
Glenda Duchamp, of Franklin Square, a stay-at-home mother of four, said she cherishes snow days, which are few and far between. "It's exciting," she said. "We get to play in the snow together and, believe it or not, the kids get up earlier on snow days than school days."
Most local businesses were closed on Sunday, but gas stations were busy on Friday. As nightfall approached, many local gas stations had lines snaking from the pumps onto main roads as drivers anticipated the storm.
As Mohammed Khobar pushed his snow blower through the mounds of white fluff at Getty on Elmont Road Monday morning, he said it was wise for people to fill up before the snow hit. "When people clean off their cars, they start their car and run the defrost," he said. "If you do that and leave to shovel, your car could run for a long time. If you go out often during a storm, you can burn a lot of gas."
As he went back to work, Miano pulled down the brim of his baseball cap and started up the incline of his driveway. He may have felt it in his legs later on, but anything beats chopping ice.
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