| Author |
Message |
    
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 984
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:17 pm: |     |
Just a thought.
Don't shovel, and you risk a fifty dollar fine.
Shovel, and you risk a $250,000 to $500,000 lawsuit.
Hmmmmm!
CLK, Its good to hear you're feeling better.
TomR |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2358
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:37 pm: | |
I learned about the shovelling from MOL, really.
Where I used to live, we had sidewalks and people varied in their shovelling. Might have been a town requirement, but never saw it enforced. Yes, kids walked to school but often in bad weather parents drove them. There were no commuters walking to the train, and many people with dogs had fenced backyards and walked the dogs less in bad weather. So, I was unprepared for the shovelling requirement. Not saying either place is right, or wrong, just saying I'd not heard of it.
Equally, I didn't know we'd get a ticket if we parked facing the wrong way on our street! The recycling I heard about through neighbors, and it took me awhile to realize you wouldn't necessarily get dragged into court if you didn't do it. |
Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 38
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:48 pm: | |
You get a ticket if you are parked facing the wrong way? I didn't know that. |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 3032
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 4:55 pm: | |
Las--you are so correct. The article is appearing in the Journal of Applied Snow Removal, Summer 2006. I will be signing copies downtown next year.
Chiquita--the poops will be well up on the lawns, near the front door. You won't have to dodge them if you stay in the safe zone near the sidewalk. And you cannot miss them--he is a big dog.
Disclaimer--I never would really let my dog's poops go unbagged, but it just struck me that if I am considerate enough to take care of my dog, I wish others would be considerate enough to take care of their sidewalks. We all have to share the neighborhoods, so we should all care about each other. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4866
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:26 pm: | |
Every time there is a snow storm this topic comes up. Hopefully it will make all of us more "helpful" to our neighbors. I know I am SO thankful to my neighbors who helped out while my hubby was out of town. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2359
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 7:35 pm: | |
If any other posters are like me, well, sometimes you're going through a bad patch and you vent on a comparatively begnign subject like vinyl siding, shovelling, etc. To me, a lot of the above posters are really nice people, some of whom could probably use a big fat hug. But! Instead we all get off on posting.
Which is not to say the issues aren't real, but sometimes the proportion gets a little whacked compared to Really Bad Things. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2360
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:46 pm: | |
Purplebug, you bet you do!!! It might be good for someone to start a thread on (real) things you can get a ticket for in Maplewood. That kinda info is hard to find, but when you run afoul of local mores, you sure will hear about it (at least on MOL). |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12533
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:53 pm: | |
You can't toss the snow into the street when you shovel your walk or driveway. I saw someone doing it yesterday on Baker Street, but it seemed harmless to me, and I didn't feel like mentioning it.
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redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4869
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 9:12 pm: | |
Cyn I understand that as well as anyone. The first thread I ever started was about Christmas Lights. I was BLASTED by everyone, saying how I should be more sensitive about what is going on in the world. |
The Oracle of MOL
Supporter
Username: Oracle_of_mol
Post Number: 209
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:29 pm: | |
Thanks, guys. I just won a bet with Old Man Winter. The bet was whether or not, simply by supplying some snow, The Old Guy could create such utter havoc that within 48 hours some loony mortals somewhere would start an argument involving both snow and animal feces.
I can't tell you how proud I am that my old stomping ground of SOMA would come through for me in this way! Not only have I earned the right to needle Mr. Freeze about this for the next millenium, but he's gotta supply me with cubed Antarctic ice until next Labor Day.
Go in peace, and Cheers!
--The Oracle of MOL |
Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 1:04 pm: | |
It's illegal to throw snow into the street?!?! Well, I saw a LOT of people doing that. Well, okay, four people doing that. It does make sense considering the plow will come and just block you back in. I guess I should thank my lucky stars that I haven't been busted, I mean ticketed for all my doings.  |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 988
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 1:53 pm: | |
If I recall correctly, it is in violation of a Maplewood ordinance to put snow on a plowed roadway.
TomR |
beppolina
Citizen
Username: Beppolina
Post Number: 127
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 8:46 pm: | |
There's a house on Wyoming that always has the sidewalk from their front door to the street shoveled, and their driveway cleared -- BUT not the public sidewalk that runs parallel to their house. Believe me, it's tempting to not pick up after my dogs when they let loose on that lawn. (But I pick it up anyway.)
Snow falls. Animals poop. In an ideal world, people would be more considerate of each other. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 197
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 9:05 pm: | |
A dog poop for a snowy sidewalk leaves everybody blind.
(With apologies to Ghandi or MLK.)
J.B. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7020
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 4:49 pm: | |
It took us about six hours (both working together) to clear our sidewalk and a path leading from the house to the sidewalk on Sunday. We used shovels and even though I have a bad back and my husband has a serious heart condition, we managed to complete the job reasonably well.
No one on our block complained that we were taking so long to clear our sidewalks. Most of the dog walkers were considerate enough to walk in the street so as not make our snow clearing job even harder by tamping down the snow. On the otherhand, even though virtually all of our neighbors were finished long before we were, no one offered to help either.
As someone said, not every block has snow-moving enthusiasts who are willing to offer to clear someone else's sidewalk after they have done their part by clearing their own.
Before someone asks why we didn't call a snow clearing service, let me add that we had been without phone service since Wednesday evening and hadn't had it restored by the telephone company until the following Tuesday so there really was no way we could phone for help.
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Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2371
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 5:56 pm: | |
Joan, I feel for you! Hope your back has recovered, and your husband, too. The previous snow even my husband helped a little, which was quite something considering. Just hope we don't get another blast.
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1061
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 6:25 pm: | |
Joan:
1. Invest in a snowblower. It is a wondeful help clearing the snow if you have a bad back.
2. Get a cell phone. You need it for emergencies, such as when your land line goes out and you have to make a call.
Mr. Lizziecat and I, in our sixties, are both cursed with bad backs. I also have arthritis. Our snowblower made short work of the blizzard, without hurting our backs. Each of has always had a cell phone, which my husband uses fo business, but also for emergencies. If you can use a computer, you can use a cell phone. It's not a luxury any more. |
anon
Supporter
Username: Anon
Post Number: 2609
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 6:38 pm: | |
Joan: Considering who you are I bet if you had come on MOL and asked for help you would have received a number of offers. (Or did the lack of phone service also stop your internet service?) |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10737
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 5:17 am: | |
Joan, time for a townhouse in Basking Ridge or a move to one of those over 55 communities down the shore. 
Seriously, being now over 60 and no longer having our 19 year old efficient, but cranky, snow thrower available (he is in college), we are going to buy a snowblower. Being really cheap this bugs me, because spending six hundred bucks for something that you may use once a year isn't really cost effective.
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Paul Surovell
Supporter
Username: Paulsurovell
Post Number: 550
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 7:32 am: | |
Shoots is right -- if you're home, there's really no excuse in Maplewood for leaving a walk unshoveled.
Because -- unless Plymouth Avenue is unique -- as soon as the accumulation starts, teams of shovelers arrive, mostly from neighboring towns, eager to earn some money for honest work.
[I'm also impressed with Shoots's plan to use Las to respond to unshoveled walks, because I think it's commendable -- even for dogs -- to "turn the other cheek."]
I usually do our own walk, but last week, I was too busy working on my 27th post on the "Palestinians Leaning Toward a Two-State Solution" thread (which coincidentally was also started by Shoots) so I paid $40 for the front walk, a path to the house and two cars in the driveway.
It was a crew of three middle-aged guys who did a really great job. I was so impressed, I wrote a little testimonial on my business card for them to show to the neighbors. And they gave me their phone number for future snowstorms:
Al, Leon 973-824-1513 or 973-620-7005 (cell)
Now there's really no excuse.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7025
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 9:58 am: | |
Thanks all.
In response to questions/comments:
1. We do have a snowblower but it broke down when my husband tried to use it to clear the driveway out to the street. Unfortunately, he did this before the softer, easier to move snow was removed. Thus the need for shovels. The snowblower has already been repaired and is ready to tackle the next storm.
2. The back is pretty much recovered (going slowly, taking rest periods, and lifting a little at a time really helped). Husband was exhausted the next day and took off a day from work (waiting for telephone repair which never showed as well as recuperating) but there were no lasting effects.
3. Posting on MOL would have been a fine idea if we didn't have dial-up service, which we do. I would hope that anyone local asking on MOL for help with the snow clearing on Sunday would have received the help they needed. That is one of the truly great things about this board -- so many of us are so willing and able to look out for one another.
4. I have been very reluctant to get a cell phone because I really don't like the idea of being fully accessible to the rest of the world 24/7. Yes, I realize that the opposite is true and there are times when I may have to reach out. However, I also realize that it was the cell phones which stopped working on 911 so even this is no real guarantee.
5. Is Basking Ridge a good place to look for town houses? A few more storms like the last one and a town house could really look very attractive.
However, my above post on this thread was not intended to be about me but rather an indication of reasons why some of our neighbors may not have been able to get their sidewalks cleared so quickly after what was truly a record snowfall.
I have always been a firm believer in trying to tackle a problem first and complaining later only if you couldn't work (with others if necessary) to get the problem resolved to your satisfaction.
I would firmly agree with the above poster who said if you don't like the way in which someone did (or didn't) clear their sidewalk, to which I would add and you are physically capable of helping out, ring their doorbell (if need be) and ask if you can help. |
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