The same thing happened to me as a kid in southern Alabama. Any bit of snow and they send the kids home.
In Tennessee they waste half their winter salt supply by presalting for ice storms that never come. Midway through winter they run out so when the ice really comes no one can drive.
These are prolly the same people who use a snow shovel to swing at the flakes while they are still in mid-air. Sheesh, my original home district was always the LAST to close in the area. We had to walk uphill, etc., etc. etc. And HATED it!!!
Anyone remember having to put up the snow fence? Anyone still USE a snow fence?
I miss the snow and the weather. My poor kids didn’t get to ski once last winter. The snow came late, and then with the move, the schedule didn’t permit a trip to a ski resort. I didn’t even get to break out my cross-country skis, and I used to be able to just ski through the neighborhood!
I’ve never put up or used a snow fence, but I’ve seen them. In the North Country, in Switzerland, and in Bavaria. First time I ever saw a whiteout on the highway was in Bavaria, as a matter of fact.
Cortland County checking in…and we use a snow fence. Without it, we’d never be able to find the children.
I grew up in PA, just south of Binghamton but ran off to squander my youth downstate. Once both our careers were established, hubby and I decided to move to the country, where we became accidental sheep farmers…that is, we fell in love with a house that just happened to be situated on a sheep farm.
Funny how things work out.
We live in what I believe is one of the most attractive locations in the country. Our home is on a dirt-friggin’ road, and yet we’re within reasonable commuting distance of 3 decent-sized cities (Binghamton, Ithaca, Syracuse) and a 3.5 hour drive from Manhattan.
I used to teach at U-E, voorvie.
Terminus Est, we missed the Ithaca Festival due to…well, due mostly to cowardice. We didn’t dare take two small children out in 50 degree weather under rain-threatening clouds. Did you go, and are you Grateful?
Thanks to the wonders of technology and the ease of telecommuting in IT, my husband still works in Brooklyn.
I’m sorry to say that I missed this year’s Ithaca fest. I’m one of those locals that somehow manages to not get around to going to the local attractions. I did watch the parade, however. That was kind of hard to miss since it starts right in front of my house.
Maybe next year we should have a mini-Dopefest during the festival. It will at least give me an excuse to go.
Raised in Fredonia (near Buffalo and Jamestown.) Finished HS in and still live in Florida (I stay for the employment, not the 6 months of unbearably hot weather per year.)
Chautauqua county can be considered Western NY and Southern Tier… as a matter of fact I think that Fredonia is about the dividing line, I’m not sure if Fredonia/Dunkirk is WNY or ST, but anything northeast of it is Western NY definitely, since that region is more heavily influenced by its proximity to Buffalo.
Speaking of which, does anyone else consider Chautauqua lake to be an honorary Finger Lake?
Dang, now I have to dig out my “Ithaca is Gorges” shirt, for sentimental reasons. Do they still have the “Ithaca Rain Festival - January 1 to December 31” shirts? They were for sale years ago on the Commons (at Shalimar, I think).
And I miss the Finger Lakes wineries - I was the designated driver so I got the grape juice, and still have a collection of glasses. Info has it that the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival this year will have a featured area, like they did for Australia and Andalusia in years past, on upstate New York Wines (is the slogan still “Uncork New York”?).
Never made it to the Chatauqua festival (could you send me a t-shirt?). Almost made it to ArtPark and SPAC, but circumstances got in the way last minute.
That’s Madison, all right. I’ll see what I can do about pics. If you really like neon, South Pearl St. is the place to go these days.
I’m partial to the Capitol and the old rail station, and I’m right with you on the Armory. Can’t stand the Plaza. I’ll try to get you some pics of the purty buildings too.
I’ll give you Chautauqua if you give me Otsego! But seriously, I am not sure that either of them qualifies geologically as finger lakes. Although both are are presumably formed in glacial valleys, I remember hearing somewhere that the Finger Lakes are all unique in that they drain north (into L Ontario) rather than south. Apparently they used to drain south before the Ice Age, but glaciation reversed the drainage. Both Chautauqua and Ostego still flow south, the former into the Allegheny watershed, and latter into the Susquehanna.
Any Western NY geologists out there to correct me?
Don’t think I’ve seen any of those lately. The “Ithaca is Gorges” shirts are still a hot item, though.
http://www.uncorknewyork.com - nothing about a festival, though. I’ve never been particularly impressed with the NYS wines. The growing season is too short and the soil too poor for the grapes.
Heh. I thought I saw one the other day. On second glance, it turned out to be the same design/font with this message:
Ithaca is
Cold
Okay, I’m north of Yonkers (and New Rochelle) but I’m still in Westchester county (Chappaqua). The state tourism board says that I live in the Hudson Valley. But that doesn’t answer the crucial question – am I a downstater or an upstater?
I’m so confused! 
Another Upstater checking in. I’m in Saratoga Springs (well, technically, just outside, but close enough).
If you like outdoors-type stuff, the Adirondack Park has a lot to offer. I try to get out canoeing every weekend when the weather’s nice. I’ve been in the area for four years, and there are so many places in the Park I haven’t made it to yet.
With summer here, keep an eye on the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) for great concerts.
Another Ithacan checking in here. Well, I grew up there, live in CA now. I visited Ithaca for a month this winter and remembered why I moved away. Brrrr!