Snowstorm Blankets the Shore

While Monday’s snowstorm kept most people in their homes, Casey Shackelford saw it as an opportunity to get outside to savor the solitude and beauty of a relatively rare event at the shore.

“I love it. It’s my favorite kind of weather. You usually don’t get to see this much snow anymore, so you’ve got to get outdoors to enjoy it while it’s here,” he said while taking a stroll on a virtually deserted Ocean City Boardwalk.

Shackelford, an Ocean City resident, drew a contrast between the Boardwalk’s muted atmosphere during the storm and the bustling crowds that jam the oceanfront walkway in the summer.

“It’s just the juxtaposition of it all. In the summer, the Boardwalk is packed all the time, but now you have maybe four people and some families out here,” he said.

Shackelford, who lives on 30th Street, also took a four-block walk on the beach while the snow was falling.

Although Shackelford made the rounds during the storm, it appeared that most of the other people in town chose to huddle up inside their homes. The beaches, Boardwalk and downtown remained unusually quiet while more than 7 inches of snow fell in Ocean City.

The colorful leftover Christmas decorations adorning the downtown shopping district glistened with a pretty coating of snow. It was a white Christmas indeed, just a little late.

Grace Sztenderowicz, who owns the historic Riverboat Club building in Ocean City with her husband, Mike, was out shoveling snow from the sidewalks in front of the property at the corner of 8th Street and Wesley Avenue. Her dog, Abby, was keeping her company.

Sztenderowicz was using a conventional snow shovel because her battery-powered combination snow blower and snow shovel had died.

“It’s cold. But I’m fine. It keeps me busy,” she said of her shoveling.

    Grace Sztenderowicz is accompanied by her dog, Abby, while shoveling the sidewalk in front of the Riverboat Club building at 8th Street and Wesley Avenue.
  

The National Weather Service forecast called for a total of 6 to 12 inches of snow in Cape May County starting late Sunday night and continuing through Monday night before tapering off.

Citing preliminary figures from the National Weather Service, nj.com reported that Ocean City had 7.4 inches of snow by Monday morning. The city of Cape May led all towns in Cape May County with 8.1 inches of snow.

Frank Donato, Ocean City’s emergency management coordinator, said there were no reports of any major problems in town caused by the storm.

“It’s been quiet in town,” he said.

    Christmas decorations along Asbury Avenue downtown glisten under a coating of snow.
  

The city’s Public Works Department was able to plow the main roads, in part because there was so little traffic driving on local streets, Donato pointed out. Plowing will continue on the secondary streets and alleys after the primary roads are done.

“Public Works is on top of it and keeping the main arteries clear for now,” Donato said. “I think most people are heeding the advice to stay inside, which is good.”

Donato urged people to continue to take precautions because temperatures are expected to remain frigid the rest of the week. Combined with stronger winds that were expected Monday night, the chilly conditions could make it hazardous for people who are driving or are simply out taking a walk, he said.

Due to the storm, all schools in the Ocean City School District were closed on Monday. The Ocean City Community Center (including the Aquatic & Fitness Center, Free Public Library, Senior Center, Arts Center and Historical Museum) were also closed. Programs at the Ocean City Civic Center were canceled. Municipal offices at City Hall and the Knight Building remained open.

Reaching the Cape May County shore points on the Garden State Parkway was something of an adventure. Although snowplows were out, the parkway was slushy in spots and there were some accidents. The parkway’s speed limit was reduced to 35 mph.

    The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph on the Garden State Parkway because of snow and ice.