It appears that Winterfest has succumbed to too much winter.  Only a few of the events are going on as planned.  The rest are being rescheduled for mid-March as a celebration of the end of winter (here’s hoping).  For more info, check here.

Sharing a little goody from the Police Dept. FB feed:

According to some sources, Lowell is currently the snowiest city in the country with 111.” (Other sources give the title to Worcester)

I’m not sure this is a title any of us wanted, but it makes it particularly appropriate that Lowell’s Annual Winterfest is coming up next weekend. The city is still planning on holding the Human Dog Sled Races, although there’s always a chance that the DPW will be too busy removing snow to take the time to groom snow into a track. Soup contests, snowman villages, live music, and lots of other events are on the schedule. Keep your fingers crossed that this extreme cold lets up a bit!

Finally, for any Facebook users who are interested, the Lowell Police Department (official) FB page seems to be more informative and more up-to-date than their city government web page. And if you want a very local view of Lowell weather, check out Mill City Weather’s FB page.

The latest parking ban will be lifted at 5:00 this afternoon, which means anyone without regular garage parking has until 7:00 PM to remove their car from the city garage or risk parking fees. If you park on city streets at all, please be reminded that even without the ban parking is only allowed when the road is cleared to the curb; your vehicle must not stick out into traffic.

For anyone who’s been concerned about our roof, these icy winds have actually been helpful.  Here’s the official word from the management:

There are no plans to clean the roof. The roof is routinely checked as it was this morning. There is very little snow on the roof. It is almost bare in most areas with the exception of a few drifts against the skylights. There are no parapets on the roof and the wind blows the snow off and keeps the snow build up to a minimum.

A snow emergency/parking ban has been declared as of 6:00 PM today; Lowell begins enforcement on city streets at midnight.  If your car is in the surface lot, it needs to be moved by this evening. The city is offering free parking to city residents at all garages during the ban.

There is currently a parking ban in effect (it apparently started awhile ago but was only posted online recently).  If your car is in the surface lot, it needs to be moved ASAP.  There is free parking in all city garages for residents without off-street parking available.  More info here.

The city expects to be doing more snow removal in the downtown area tonight from midnight until about 6:30 am.  If you expect to be out and about during those hours, please be aware that there may be traffic delays.

The city’s parking ban is being lifted as of 5:00 am tomorrow, the 4th.  Any cars that have been parking in the garage without a pass need to be moved by 7:00 am or face parking fees.

(Of course, I would have to get this news 15 minutes after I already posted today!)

The city will be removing snow from the downtown area between midnight and 7:00 am tomorrow morning.  If you expect to be going in or out during those hours, be sure to leave extra time to get around the equipment and workers.

I’ve added a link on the Useful Links and Condo Living pages to a pdf of the City of Lowell Parking Department Rules and Regulations.  The brochure is dated 2012 but I believe it’s current.

I didn’t make it to the January board meeting—it got postponed due to the blizzard and then I forgot—but I did get the latest on the fountain, for those who’ve been asking. The new fountain has been scheduled for inspection and testing twice; both times the appointment was snowed out (including today). Hopefully, the next time Mother Nature will give us a break and we’ll actually have a working fountain again!

If you’re interested in an amusing take on local wintry weather from 133 years ago, here’s an item from the Lowell Courier, December, 1848:

“After all, one could kill off the creeping gloom, by watching people mince along as though upon very thin shelled eggs, with now and then an involuntary shuffle and rigadoon. It looked odd, to see handsome ladies start a “forward and back” and “right and left” figure; or grave old gentlemen begin a busy rat-tat shuffle, on a floor of glassy ice, and neither of them look happy about it, either. All the world have been dancing without music and even church members have been cutting figures in all sorts of antics and queer postures.”

And finally—at the risk of cluttering up the bulletin board with excessive silliness—I think the snow is getting to me.  I’m starting to see strange things across from my window….. 😉

Here we go again.  The city of Lowell has declared a snow emergency as of 6:00 this afternoon.  If you’re parked in the surface lot, please move your car to the garage.  All city garages will be open to city residents at no charge during the emergency.  More info here.