I have been trying very hard to keep my sidewalks clear, along with some of my neighbors' (which altogether amounts to quite a bit of sidewalk). Unfortunately, not only is the city not "doing more to keep the...sidewalks clear," they have been actively blocking the sidewalks that are clear. Twice now this week I have found that the city has plowed a huge mound of snow blocking my sidewalks at Bryant and Sheridan, not to mention plowing a huge amount of snow onto the sidewalk itself at the intersection of Bryant and Farragut. The corners of just about all the intersections around here have been barricaded by plowed snow. It becomes increasingly frustrating to be asked by the city to clear our sidewalks when they make it difficult or impossible to get to the ones that have been cleared. I realize they need to put the snow somewhere (although by now they should be doing more to remove it rather than just push it around), but there seems to be a basic lack of common sense involved in choosing to put it where it makes the sidewalks inaccessible. Bill Ghrist On 2/19/2010 10:33 AM, Eric or Sue Randall wrote:
Hello Neighbors.
This morning I woke to discover that my 3-story, sloped-slate roof had finally given up its 2-week burden of ice and snow. Yesterday I had spent some time shoveling around the back of my house; had I been doing so when the ice came down, I easily could have been injured or killed. Some of the chunks of ice were almost as big as my torso.
I would encourage you to take a good look at your home and determine if any of your doors/exits are significantly safer from falling icicles than the others; if so, please stick to the safer doors until the ice falls! Please also be on the lookout for your neighbors and do what you can to keep your sidewalks, steps and (as applicable) your piece of the back alley safe for walking on. If you are able to do so, I'd also ask you to go the extra mile - clear a little sidewalk or alley beyond the sides of your house. If your next-door-neighbor's path is unsafe but yours is safe, and there's a feasible way to do so, encourage your neighbor to use your path. I recognize that many of us are tired of shoveling snow and wish the city were doing more to keep the roads and sidewalks clear. But a little effort on our parts will go a long way - and while it may not seem so now, this snow will eventually pass.
Be safe, keep warm and be sure to take advantage of your extra time outdoors to get to know your fellow neighbors battling the snow! After the first snow two weeks ago, I met a neighbor, shoveled a bit of snow for her and was handsomely rewarded with a mug of hot chocolate and some shortbread cookies! :-)
Eric D. Randall President, Highland Park Community Council