The long-duration snowstorm on Monday, February 9, dropped several inches of snow on Newtown. It was less snow accumulation than in some other parts of the state, but it was enough snow to cancel school for the day.

Fred Hurley, town director of public works, said, “We were very fortunate,” noting that worse weather, in the form of icing conditions, occurred in southern sections of Fairfield County.

Mr Hurley estimated that four to five inches of snow fell locally during the lengthy storm.

It was a snowy Monday for the second week in a row, in fact. Another three-day weekend for students and faculty of Newtown’s schools, as well as for a number of residents. Some opted to work from home, or just had to stay home due to road conditions.

Few drivers were out during most of the day. The heaviest population on the roads were town and state vehicles and private contractors, all running their plows.

By early afternoon, many roads were very slippery. Snow had been ongoing since before daybreak, but let up slightly by midmorning. By noon, however, a second front moved into the area. Town plows seemed unable to keep up with the increased pace of precipitation, with many secondary roads covered over by the slippery mix of snow and ice before crews could return for subsequent runs with a plow and sand.

A continuing issue, snow berms were again seen across a few roadways on Monday, said Mr Hurley. He and the Newtown Police Department have both said this season that the practice — plowing snow out from a driveway and across a roadway, leaving even small piles of snow across a road — is both dangerous and illegal.

Berms are created when a plow is used to push or pull snow from a driveway and across a roadway to clear a driveway. The practice may be easier due to the layout of a driveway, but berms left in roadways can freeze and create an unexpected bump in an already compromised roadway.

Newtown Police reminded plow drivers earlier this season that hitting a snow berm can result in damage to a vehicle. Worse, these bumps could throw a driver into a slide or spin. For that reason, state law allows a $50 fine per incident.

While not widespread, a few of these were spotted in town on Monday, including a pair within yards of each other on Mountain Manor Road.

Mr Hurley also said residents have been cooperative when asked to remove parked vehicles from alongside locals roads when snow removal is taking place.

The Public Works Department typically seeks police aid in getting such illegally parked vehicles moved to allow snow removal to proceed, he said. A town ordinance provides for a wintertime on-road parking ban to facilitate snow removal.

Mr Hurley said there were at least a dozen cases in which motorists left vehicles parked on roads, requiring that the vehicles’ owners be notified that they needed to move the autos.

Police Sergeant Aaron Bahamonde noted that the first significant snow storm of the winter is often the most trying one.

The storm on Monday, February 9, could be considered the third significant snowfall of the season, with the two other significant storms having occurred in the preceding weeks.

“Once we get through the first several storms, people generally take more caution and heed” in adapting to wintertime driving conditions, the sergeant said.

Police incident logs listed no motor vehicle accidents on Monday.

There were three instances of disabled vehicles.

One occurred late in the morning near the intersection of Mile Hill Road and Mile Hill Road South. The others occurred early in the afternoon near the intersection of Mt Pleasant Road and Hawleyville Road, and another near the intersection of Mile Hill Road and South Main Street.

There was minimal, light-to-moderate traffic on Monday, due in part to schools being closed for the day, the sergeant said.

Sgt Bahamonde urged that residents keep their driveways and walkways clear of snow at their properties to allow for emergency access, when necessary.

Residents should also check for snow and ice buildups on roofs and gutters, taking steps remove such accumulations, as necessary, he said.

The Newtown Emergency Communications Center listed no fire calls on Monday, February 9.

One of the first groups to postpone a planned event was Newtown Historical Society, who on Sunday afternoon announced it was postponing its February 9 program. “Women’s Work in World War II,” to be presented at C.H. Booth Library by guest speaker John Cilio, will be rescheduled, the society announced.

C.H. Booth Library opened Monday morning, but by late morning Director Brenda J. McKinley announced the Main Street institution would be closing for the day. Those who may have had items due February 9, who were unable to visit the library in the morning, were again spared a late fee.

“As always,” she said, “fines will not be charged for items due today.”

Reed Intermediate School’s 6th Grade Orchestra concert, already postponed from its original date of January 27, was again postponed, along with any other events planned in the schools on Monday.

Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue opted by mid-afternoon to postpone its planned meeting for Monday night, as did the town’s Conservation Commission. The Board of Finance, however, did hold its meeting as planned.

The heaviest of the precipitation moved out of the area right around 5 pm. A very light mix of flurries and rain continued into the evening. 

Wendover Road resident Dolores White, long a familiar figure seen running or jogging along roads in the center of town, was out for a walk early Monday afternoon.

“I love walking in the snow,” she said, smiling. “It’s so peaceful. It’s beautiful.”

Mrs White may have another chance to enjoy walking in the winter weather later this week. The National Weather Service is predicting a few more inches of snow for Newtown on Thursday.