Be good winter neighbors
I’m reminded of lyrics from a Joni Mitchell song, “I wish I had a river I could skate away on.” Today, I could skate on my driveway and would happily do so if it would take me somewhere warmer, both in temperature and spirit. Yesterday, I learned of neighbors who got into a heated shouting match about where to dump their snow, and one ended up calling the police on the other. The police verdict: “Be neighborly.” This morning’s commute to school was also a nightmare—gridlock traffic, beeping horns, and no place for pedestrians. I saw children walking on Westford Street amid cars and buses because the sidewalks were covered with snow. Some people had shoveled their sidewalks, as the law requires, but not enough to provide a consistent walkway. I realize some folks are elderly or incapable of shoveling, but others have no excuse except laziness; and for a storm that hit on a Sunday, it’s shameful to see so many snow-covered sidewalks during Monday’s busy commute. The police should crackdown on these people, targeting the busiest streets and those around schools first—places that absolutely need safe walkways. If you’re healthy and able, get out and shovel the sidewalks abutting your property. Not because it’s the law, but because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t’ wait until it’s too late and someone gets hurt. Besides, it’s never too soon to be neighborly.