We’ll take some of Buffalo’s snow

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    By the time you read this, we could have snow on the ground.
    Or it could be 50 degrees, sunny and dry.

    Such is the paradox of Maine winters. On one hand, you count your blessings on days when the furnace doesn’t crank up every 10 minutes. On the other hand, if you own a business that depends on snow, you’re waiting breathlessly for the “real” winter to arrive.
    As you may already know, the Buffalo, N.Y. area was hammered last week. A record 76 inches of snow fell during a two-day period, virtually crippling the area. The storm was very erratic, often dumping six inches in one area and three feet a mile down the road.
    While we haven’t been hit with a blockbuster storm in quite a while, we did have plenty of snow last year. It started in early December and stayed on the ground until early April.
    I remember digging through three feet of snow in the backyard around the first day of spring, trying to uncover some day lily beds so they could get some sunlight.
    In any case, we could use some snow now. There’s nothing worse than having the ground completely bare and temperatures consistently below the freezing mark.
    A deep frost can also freeze, crack or even disconnect pipes. Snow is natural insulation. When it melts, it’s a nutrient for our lawns and gardens.
    Many businesses also depend on snow, even though owners may grumble when they have to shell out money for plowing services.
    Nobody goes to Greenville in the winter to see brown grass and bare trees. Without a good snowpack, you’ll be limiting your sledding activities to trips across frozen Moosehead Lake or First Roach Pond.
    Every business from mom-and-pop convenience stores to Squaw Mountain Ski Resort will be hurting unless we have snow on the ground.
    Other businesses such as lodging, restaurants and auto parts stores depend on winter to drive traffic as well. Nobody wants to be stuck with a year’s worth of winter wiper blades when spring arrives.
    Those who aren’t crazy about snow include school superintendents. They have to get up at 4 a.m., check out the weather forecast and make a decision on whether to cancel school or not. If you call it off too quickly, the sun will be out by 10 a.m. If you decide it isn’t worth canceling, you may wind up with 18 inches in the parking lot.
    Personally, I like snow even though I hate to drive in it. The only winter-related accident I’ve had took place years ago when I hit a patch of black ice just south of Monson.
    The vehicle flipped over twice, slid across the road and whacked a guard rail. The only injury I received was a black eye when the air bag went off. But to this day, I still slow down when I drive by the accident scene.
    So if the ground is bare when you read this, let’s hope we get some of Buffalo’s snow.
    We just don’t want all of it.
Mike Lange is a staff writer with the Piscataquis Observer. His opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.