Monday, March 18, 2013
Wayland voters will have an amount to approve for transfer to the snow budget when they head to Annual Town Meeting in April.
Looks like Punxsutawney Phil was wrong. Winter has definitely decided to stick around this year. But it's not just taking a toll on drivers' patience, it's hitting Wayland's pocketbook as well. Wayland Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette said Wayland has long since spent the $450,000 allocated to the Fiscal Year 2013 snow budget. In fact, Ouellette said he requested an additional $150,000 weeks ago and has already spent between $20,000 and $50,000 of that. WHDH meteorologists are predicting Wayland will receive 4-6 inches of snow from Monday night into Tuesday. Those inches will drain about $50,000 more out of Wayland's snow budget, Ouellette predicted. By the time, Wayland restocks the salt shed for the end of the season, …
Friday, March 8, 2013
Wayland Superintendent Paul Stein elected to hold classes in Wayland Public Schools today ... that left Wayland High School students digging cars out of a snowed in parking lot come Friday afternoon.
"We're in worse shape than we were during the blizzard," Wayland Highway Director Stephen Kadlik said late Friday morning. As snow continued to fly in a storm that was originally forecasted to bring only 3-6 inches to Wayland, Kadlik said that crews were having trouble keeping up, that pieces of equipment weren't in full working order and that school parking lots ... well, they couldn't really be plowed because student and teacher vehicles filled the lots. And that school situation was one that had parents asking plenty of questions. Schools systems throughout the area closed their doors and kept students home Friday, but Wayland students -- the resilient ones -- charged on to classes. Wayland High School senior Chris Mulhern said he drove…
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Wayland High School
264 Old Connecticut Path, Wayland, MA
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Fingers crossed that this is the last big snow of the season for Wayland ...
We want to see your snow photos! We know there are high hopes out there that this is Old Man Winter's one last gasp. That means you have one last shot (we hope!) this year to share you snowy Wayland photos with us. Upload your shots to Wayland Patch. The snow is a pain, but it's also beautiful and fun. Let's make the most of it and show off snow-coated Wayland.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
We've had plenty of snow in the past few days (blizzard, anyone?) ... where do you like to enjoy the snow?
With 2 feet of snow in Wayland in the past week, there's plenty of snowy landscape to explore. One Patch reader mentioned seeing many, many folks out enjoying the wintry wonderland at the Greenways, but the footprints at Heard Farm are testimony that many folks also enjoy a romp over there. For this week's question, we're asking you to share your favorite snowy spot in Wayland: Where do you like to walk in the snow in Wayland? (You never know, perhaps this is a romantic Valentine's Day option for you and yours).
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Keeping each road passable is the chief goal in the midst of a storm, but now crews are busy trying to clean up intersections, sight lines and sidewalks.
The Blizzard of 2013 ended three days ago, but the crews of the Wayland Department of Public Works remain hard at work. Joe Doucette, senior foreman for the DPW, said he was incredibly proud of the workers, many of which are relatively new employees. "It was quite an undertaking," Doucette said. "I'm very proud of the staff. Our equipment took a beating. It was a challenge. I think we did very well considering what we have. We have a lot of new employees, rookie people we've hired in the past year. For a lot of them this was the first major snow storm. They did great job." Doucette said that during the height of the storm and in its immediate aftermath, the goal is simply to keep the roads passable. "Keep the roads passable and open -- …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, there's no excuse to not clear your nearest fire hydrant.
Wayland Fire Capt. Bob Dorey is asking folks to do a minor chore when they're out enjoying the snow in Wayland: Clear the nearest fire hydrant. "I'm trying to encourage people on a slow day, especially on the main roads, to clean off their nearest hydrants," said Dorey. He said he'd seen a number of reflective lights around town marking the hydrants, but the hydrants themselves remained buried in snow drifts. "Enjoy this beautiful day and get a little exercise and shovel out your fire hydrants," Dorey said, explaining that the extra time the fire department would have to take to clear the hydrant could mean critical minutes lost in an emergency. "The worst things is you burn a couple of calories," Dorey said. "And we hope we don't have to …
With rain and ice in Monday's forecast, it's important to get some of that heavy snow off the roofs.
Now that you've begun to dig your cars and driveways out, it's time to also consider your roof. Monday's forecast is calling for some rain and ice and snow, which could add substantial weight to already snow-laden roofs. Earlier this morning, Patch received the following reader question: "Can you provide any names of roofers who would help clear roof off of houses? Does anyone have a list?" So we posed the question on our Facebook page and here are the results to far. - Joey Levin reports "BJs has plenty of 21-foot snow rakes." - Margret Krakauer added, "I know that Lynch Landscaping clears roofs. They were efficient and competitive in price. They did work fast, though and the heavy snow damaged a lace-leaf maple. If you use them or anyone…
A quick stop by the Wayland Highway Department Garage on Saturday afternoon found tired, but resilient crew members.
Wayland's Department of Public Works crews hit the roads at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. At 4 p.m., Saturday, Wayland Parks Superintendent Mike Lindeman had made it back to the parking lot of the Wayland Highway Department garage and had a moment to reflect on the past 24 hours. "Worst one I've ever seen," Lindeman said as he helped other crew members dig their own cars out. The nearby crew members agreed. "You couldn't see your hand in front of your face," Lindeman said. Even so, Lindeman said, the whole experience had gone as well as could be expected. He said there were a few cars abandoned in the roads when people left work "later than the should have," and couldn't make it into their driveways. "Overall, it went ok." Wayland's roads …
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 Wayland'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
The Saturday suspension of mail delivery debate applies to today: but not because of USPS budget problems!
You may be wondering if there'll be any new mail in your mailbox today (that is, if you can even make it to your mailbox with all this snow.) The answer is that 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.
Abby Jordan
9:30 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Greenways has been beautiful lately - great place for a winter walk. more ›