Snapshots from Snow Country
Tier residents take metro snow woes with a grain of (rock) salt
LAKEWOOD — Some might call it a no man’s land.
But, to many residents of the far reaches and back roads of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, it’s more of a snowman’s land — a virtual paradise for winter sports enthusiasts from skiers to ice fishermen and snowmobilers. And on Saturday, Old Man Winter continued to pummel the region with snow, with no letup in sight.
The winter landscape down here is measured in feet — a world away from the scant few inches of snow in metro Buffalo and the paltry foot and some odd inches in southern Erie County.
Thirty minutes south of Buffalo, are polite snow scenes worthy of a prissy Currier & Ives print. South of Eden, snips of chopped corn stalks dot farm fields.
But from Collins on south, the wintry vista is spectacular.
Sample some of these Snow Country snapshots:
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PERRYSBURG — This Cattaraugus County community of 1,658 would appear to be a mecca for hibernators — except for the occasional snowblower cleaning out a plugged driveway.
The accumulation of snow has put Perrysburg on the map this season — just as it has during other recent winters.
“We seem like we’re getting famous. We seem to hit the news,” said John Kenney, who was leaving the Perrysburg post office, which was the only place in town showing much activity Saturday morning.
“There’s nothing much to do in Perrysburg,” he added. “We hibernate. There’s a few snowmobilers.”
“With the snow, it’s a nightmare,” said Linda Pagano, an eight-year resident of the community. “Our activity is shoveling and plowing.”
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SINCLAIRVILLE — The snow — measuring about 28 1/2 inches and counting Saturday morning — was the talk of this Chautauqua County village of about 430 homes.
“It’s like living in Alaska,” said Clarence Underwood, 78, as he made the mile-long trek on foot from the post office to his home on Reed Street.
“You get used to it,” he said. “You live here. You get up and say, ‘Oh, no — not again.’ ”
“We cope,” he added. “If the roads are bad, we go out anyway.”
Some village homes here seemed to peek through the formidable snowdrifts, with huge icicles fronting picture windows.
Sinclairville Deputy Mayor Brian Johnson was determined to turn the snowfall into a fun experience for his grandsons, who live in Grand Island. He and the boys made sport of the popular sledding hill at Sinclairville Village Park.
Grandsons Joshua, 5, and Michael Archer, 8, enjoyed eating the snow just as much as sledding it.
Toasty warm inside the Sinclairville Superette & Hunters Cafe, Leroy Johnson, 70, and his companion, Roberta Tarbell, ate a hot lunch. Leroy offered a curt answer to the question: “How are you coping?”
“Not well,” he said, dining on a fish fry. “We dig out and hibernate, and dig out and hibernate — It seems like we’ve had more snow so far this winter than we usually get in a whole year.”
Outside the Superette, snowmobilers eagerly gassed up for the anticipated dash across the snowscape.
“We’ve been waiting for this,” said Deborah Delong of Sinclairville. “. . . The more snow, the better.”
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MAYVILLE — Aside from a stray Amish buggy or cross-country skier, this popular summertime community of 1,700 on Chautauqua Lake looked out on what resembled a tundra — the lake desolately snow-white as far as one could see, silence punctured by the constant hum of snowmobile engines.
A few ice-fishing huts could be seen about 300 to 400 yards out on the lake. Many snowmobilers darted along the edge of the the lake at the Mayville Depot Museum before veering out of town on a network of trails.
Ice fishermen boasted a decent catch — mainly perch.
“This is what we do in the winter,” said snowmobiler Phil Ribaudo of Jamestown, gazing over the lake. “I bought this [sled] because I hated winter, and it makes winter bearable.”
Ice fishing enthusiasts Cindy and Dennis Weber drove from Niagara Falls early Saturday for the privilege dropping a line into the lake.
“It’s fun,” Dennis said. “It’s something to do in the winter, rather than watch TV.”
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ASHVILLE — A deep blanket of snow seemingly buried Ashville, a community on the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake. The ride by car along Route 394 from Mayville was full of slick surprises, near-whiteouts and poor visibility. Summertime cottages and the Chautauqua Institute appeared frozen in time.
The Ashville General Store was a beacon in the storm, a sign just outside reading: “You’re Always Welcome.”
Teacher Julie A. Minor of Frewsburg didn’t let the snow hold her back, driving to her Sherman school classroom to make a delivery (school was closed Friday — the third snow day of the school year).
“We’re out on a day like today,” Minor said.
Outside, Dipstick, a friendly beagle mix, was enjoying a snow-friendly outing.
“He loves it,” said his owner, Brenda Roberts of Ashville, who conceded a different opinion.
“I’m sick of it,” she said. “We’ve had more than enough of the snow. I don’t go anywhere, unless my son drives me.”
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