Wednesday, February 13, 2013
We're looking for a few good men and women who helped their neighbors during the storm.
Most of us were stuck in our homes on Friday and Saturday, and as much as we'd like to complain about being stuck at home, some people weren't that lucky. People whose jobs are considered essential didn't get to go home early on Friday and stay home on Saturday, and many of them are probably your friends and neighbors. Whether you know police officers, firefighters, hospital workers (doctors, nurses and all other hospital employees) or DPW workers, many of those people worked longer and maybe even more difficult shifts than usual. Natick residents tend to be very big into taking care of each other, so we got to wondering: who helped out some of these people who were forced to work through the blizzard? Did you help out a neighbor who had …
Even a few days after the Blizzard of 2013, there is still a large amount of snow on the sidewalks, making it difficult for people to walk.
Class was back in session here in Natick yesterday, and while the snow might have been plowed on the sidewalks in the immediate vicinity of the schools, in most parts of Natick there was a lot of snow on the sidewalk, making it difficult, if not impossible, to walk. Many towns have local bylaws when it comes to shoveling the sidewalk. Natick has no such law, according to Town Administrator Martha White. Marlborough has a local law which states that a property owner must clear the snow on the abutting sidewalk within 12 hours after the flakes stop falling. The penalty can be a $50 fine. One problem that some towns have had with laws related to shoveling is when it comes to elderly or other people who are not physically able to shovel large …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Driving was banned and it took hours for some people to shovel out, but how much snow fell in Natick?
It's been called the Blizzard of 2013. For two days people sat at home because they didn't want to go out even if they could. But how much snow fell in Natick? According to the National Weather Service, Natick got 24 inches of snow using a trained spotter to measure. Natick's 24 inches was not the most in the area, as Framingham received 30.5 inches of snow, as determined by a ham radio. Sherborn got 25.8 inches, Hopinton had 21.8 inches and Holliston had 20.5 inches. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Natick firefighters cut through a fence and used straps to free a horse stuck in snow.
An elderly horse had the drama of his life on Sunday. Surprise, age 34, was outside his paddock while his owner was clearing a walkway to the barn. Possibly frightened by the noise of the snowblower, he bolted down a cleared path and tried to jump a fence into the larger paddock. He lost his footing in a snow bank and then got his leg wedged under the paddock fence. "He tried to get over the fence, and he slid," said Jayme Bastiansen, whose parents own Surprise. His owners tried to free him for about 20 minutes, then called Natick firefighters, who after responding, cut through the fence. The firefighters also used straps connected to the owner's backhoe, to hoist him up, to help get him back on his feet. An hour after the ordeal, Surprise…
42.270358
-71.355971
186 S Main St, Natick, MA
/articles/horse-stuck-on-south-main-street
/locations/8783182
Patch began asking Natick residents on Facebook how they rate the job the Natick Department of Public Works did with plowing, and those who responded felt they did a very good job.
On the Natick Patch Facebook Page, we asked how you felt about the Natick DPW's job plowing the streets in town. We explained that on a scale of 1-10, 1 means the worst possible job and 10 meaning that Natick has the best DPW in metrowest. Taking that into account, here's the response we got, with the overall numbers being very favorable for the DPW. Elaine Mosgofian and Nicole Keefe Mason both responded that the DPW deserved somewhere between an 8 and a 10. Valerie Irvine Shealer said she gave the DPW a 9, while Pearl Northrop placed them in a 7-9 range. A couple of residents wrote in comments, including Joe Kiggen, who wrote, "Everyone is doing a great job as always." Monica DeBiase wrote, "Excellent. I was impressed." Robert Dunlop …
Upload your photos of the blizzard here on Natick Patch.
When the snow started falling we asked you to upload your photos. Let's continue to add to the gallery of blizzard photos taken in Natick. All you need to do is simply upload your photos or video directly to this article by clicking the "upload photos and video" button above. Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter
Light, fluffy snow on rooftops can act as a sponge for rain, which is in the forecast for Monday. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency offers these tips.
With rain in Natick's forecast for Monday, the Blizzard of '13 may not be finished wreaking havoc in Massachusetts. While temperatures dropped overnight on Friday resulting in light, fluffy snow, he Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) warns that fluffy snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing rain and adding additional stress to structures. Relatively flat roofs are particularly vulnerable, MEMA says. In other cases, roof ice dams have formed causing water build-up, leading to interior damage. These conditions can accelerate the snowmelt. To minimize the risk of over-stressing a building roof due to accumulated or drifting snow: Information from a release by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
MEMA says don't call 911. Wait for updates.
The statewide driving ban remains in effect, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency posted on its Facebook page. The driving ban was lifted at 1 p.m. for Nantucket and for all communities west of I-91. Residents across the entire state are free to drive after 4. MEMA officials had asked community members to stop calling 911 and their local public safety departments about this topic. "Updates will be posted when decided," MEMA officials wrote.
The Saturday suspension of mail delivery debate applies to today: but not because of USPS budget problems!
Whether you can make it to your mailbox or not, there won't be any mail waiting there for you. Mail service in all of New England — not just Massachusetts — has been suspended, according to the Huffington Post. The ban extends throughout all six New England states. The unusual decision was made due to safety concerns, according to Postal Service spokeswoman Christine Dugas. The decision came after over two feet of snow falling throughout much of New England made many roads impassable, she said. Dugas reminded people to clear around their mailboxes or paths to their homes by Monday, when mail delivery will resume.
The MBTA will not operate its buses, subway commuter rail or anything else today because of the weather.
The MBTA has suspended all services today, according to its website. The website says it is because of the heavy snow and strong winds, and that the safety of its customers and employees is the number one priority. They also state that by suspending service completely they will be able to get it up and running quicker in the long run.
Michael Barrett
12:49 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
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