RUMFORD — A snowstorm that caused dozens of cancellations and a few accidents Tuesday had a bright side for some: school closings.
School Administrative District 44 in Bethel and Regional School Unit 10 in Rumford canceled classes.
“You can’t beat sleeping in, movies and snuggles with both my babies,” said Tia Jeselskis of Greenwood, whose kindergartner, Ayva, enjoyed her day off from Woodstock Elementary School.
Ayva was happy to stay home with her mom and 16-month-old sister, Isla. She spent the day playing outside making snow angels with her dog, Lomax.
In Rumford, a couple of inches of snow fell in the morning and very little in the afternoon. Schools were canceled, but children were not out and about, perhaps because of the cold temperatures.
Plow drivers for the Maine Department of Transportation were keeping the roads clear and were geared up for Tuesday evening’s forecast of sleet and freezing rain.
“As the snow falls and traffic goes over it, it’ll blow right into the center of the road, so we got out every couple of hours and scrape it down,” said Zach Meisner of the state crew in Bethel. “Then all we do is cuff it off into the shoulder of the road. Later we’ll do a run and knock back the shoulders so traffic doesn’t pull the snow back into the lane.”
As of 3:30 p.m, Meisner said the roads were “all right.” He said drivers should just take their time and use common sense.
“Signal early for a turn, because that centerline is slippery,” Meisner said.
A few selectmen meetings scheduled for Tuesday were postponed because of the storm. Mexico will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and the Newry selectmen will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Woodstock selectmen canceled their meeting.
Ayva Jeselskis, a kindergartner at Woodstock Elementary School, makes snow angels at her home in Greenwood on Tuesday.
Ayva Jeselskis and her dog, Lomax, play at their home in Greenwood on Tuesday, enjoying Ayva’s day off from school.
The parking lot of Telstar Regional Middle/High School in Bethel was almost empty on Tuesday after all schools in School Administrative District 44 were closed for the day because of a snowstorm.
The streets of Bethel were blanketed with snow Tuesday.