Lexington Storm Center: LPS Encourages Parents to Drive Kids to School on Monday

9:32 p.m. -- Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash shared the message sent tonight to the parents and guardians of LPS students, encouraging them to consider driving their chidren to school. Here it is:

Dear Parents and Guardians:
I am writing to let you know that all schools will be open on Monday, February 11. DPW has assured me that all streets and school parking lots will have been plowed. Since it will take a few days to clear all town sidewalks, please consider driving your child(ren) to school(s). Principals will allow extra time in the morning for students to arrive.
Dr. Ash

9:15 p.m. -- Sources say Lexington parents have received an automated call encouraging them to drive kids to school on Monday, Feb. 11, with principals allowing leeway for tardiness. That comes after town communications that, earlier in the day, acknowledged it will take several days for all of the Lexington's sidewalks to be passable.

Sunday, Feb. 10, 1:05 p.m. -- The Lexington Antony Sister City Association (LASCA) WILL host its fourth annual French A Faire from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Depot. The event, to raise funds to provide hospitality for the Antony delegation's visit this may, features tastings of wine, cheese, bread and chocolate, an auction and entertainment. Though the parking ban remains in effect, event attendees will be allowed to park in the lot behind the Depot. 

Patch heard from Police Chief Mark Corr a little while ago. He said the driving ban helped give the DPW opportunity to get the roads well cleared, but urged motorists and pedestrians to use caution navigating the town as it will be a few days yet before conditions return to normal.

Here's the full text of Corr's email to Patch:

Lexington was very fortunate. We had the heavy snow but only two relatively minor power outages. In my opinion, the driving ban and the parking ban has given the DPW the best possible opportunity to make the roadways safe for public safety passage. The Police Department did the best we could to stay visible and accessible to the residents in Town. With the sun coming out and some roadways cleared to the pavement, some people may forget to stay cautious. There will be pedestrians in the roadways and the very high snow banks have narrowed the roads and make visibility at intersections dangerous. We encourage everyone to slow down and take care. It will still be a couple days before we are back to "normal."

2:50 p.m. -- According to the latest communication from the town, snow plowing operations will continue for the next several days to widen roads and open sidewalks; the goal being to have all roads accessible by Sunday afternoon and sidewalks open by mid-week.

With that in mind, the local parking ban will remain in effect on all public streets and municipal/school parking lots through tomorrow, Feb. 10.

2:11 p.m. -- Word from the Lexington Police Department is that residents have done a great job abiding by the statewide travel and local parking bans. Also, a post-storm update/Code Red/News and Notices communcation will be coming soon.

1:49 p.m. -- The town hasn't updated its storm-information since early yesterday, but its post-storm reminders, while somewhat skewed toward anticipated power outages, are still sound. From the town website:

Walk carefully around the outside your home to check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage. Always assume a downed line is a live line. Call your utility company to report any outage-related problem... If you lose power, check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out. Food can stay cold in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours and in a well-packed freezer for 48 hours... Always use generators outdoors, away from windows and doors. Carbon Monoxide (CO) fumes are odorless and can quickly accumulate indoors.

1:11 p.m. -- According to twitter user @Lostways27, Stop & Shop on Bedford street is open today.

1 p.m. -- Gov. Deval Patrich has announced the driving ban will be lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. today, and has been lifted immediately for Nantucket County and for all communities west of I-91.

11:35 a.m. -- In case you were wondering, there will be no mail delivery today anywhere in New England, according to a decision a USPS spokesperson said was made out of safety concerns.

10:50 a.m. -- As of this hour, the statewide travel ban remains in effect. Speaking of transportation, NECN is reporting that MBTA service will not be restored today; the *goal* is Monday.

Snowfall could continue through early this afternoon, with an additional accumulation of 3 to 7 inches today, according to the National Weather Service.

Also, Ride Studio Cafe, which braved the storm to stay open yesterday and re-open today, reports the bikeway was clear as of about 10 a.m. this morning.

10:20 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 9 -- We're hearing reports of snowfall totals of around 30 inches around Lexington, but the good news is the town seems to be faring fairly well when it comes to power.  There were upwards of 70 reported power outages late last night, but neither of the outage maps by from utilities NSTAR and National Grid are showing outages today.

8:48 p.m. -- Power outages are on the rise in Massachusetts. While they don't seem to have hit Lexington yet (fingers crossed they won't), you can see the outages creeping closer on these outage maps by utilities NSTAR and National Grid.

5:20 p.m. -- According to a company press release, beginning tonight at 6 p.m. and lasting through 5 a.m. Sunday morning, Cumberland Farms stores that remain open for business will offer a free cup of fresh brewed Farmhouse Blend coffee to all snow plow operators and utility workers.

5:15 p.m. -- Chyten Educational Services President Neil Chyten said the storm could affect 16 or more of Chyten’s centers around the area, potentially causing tutoring and test prep sessions to be canceled on Saturday. 

“As to which ones, we typically leave that up to our tutors and our families to decide whether or not they feel save driving in adverse conditions,” Chyten said via email, noting it’s likely that all sessions, practice tests and classes scheduled for Saturday in the Lexington location would be canceled.

Anyone unsure whether their session will be canceled can call the Lexington center at 781-541-6279 for more information.  

2:50 p.m. -- The Boston Bruins home game on Saturday has been pushed from a 1 p.m. start to a 7 p.m. start.  

1:41 p.m. -- The Lexington Board of Selectmen, like the governor, have declared a State of Emergency. What's that mean? No parking will be allowed on Lexington's public streets and roadways, or in public or school parking lots, effective at 2 p.m. today, according to the announcement.

1 p.m. -- Gov. Deval Patrick has signed an executive order banning vehicle traffic effective at 4 p.m. on Friday. Toll collection will cease at 2 p.m. today.

Updated 12 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8 -- The forecasts this morning indicated snow totals could top three feet in and around Lexington. Meanwhile, the town center was bustling this morning, with many businesses were open and patrons popping into coffee shops, eateries and retail stores around town. Many vehicles were parked along Mass Ave as snow began to fall. It's worth noting that the town announced yesterday that on-street parking would not be permitted for the duration of the storm, to facilitate clearing of snow.

Updated at 4:20 p.m. -- According to a notificaiton from the town, all municipal offices and public facilities -- including the Senior Center and the Lexpress transportation service -- will be closed Friday. However, there will be trash collection on Friday, Feb. 8. With the trash collection announcement comes the caveat that the town is requesting all residents take in their empty barrels by 1 p.m.

Updated at 3 p.m., Thursday Feb. 7 -- According to a notices on the Lexington Public Schools website and on the Cary Memorial Library's twitter feed, both the schools and library will be closed on Friday, Feb. 8. All school and town activities are canceled for Saturday and Sunday, as well.

Other cancellations/postponements include the cancellation of the League of Women Voters forum on the state budget that was to be held Friday morning and the postponement to March 1 of the Historical Society's Rum and Revolution Cronin Lecture originally scheduled for Friday evening.

Original Post:

As of Thursday, Feb. 7, most forecasters were predicting snowstorm Nemo will dump up to 24 inches of snow for Lexington.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS/INFO

• In case of emergency, dial 911
• Police Department: 781-862-1212
• Fire Department: 781-862-0271
• DPW: 781-274-8300
• National Grid power outages: 800-465-1212
• National Grid gas emergencies: 800-233-5325
• NStar power outages: 800-592-2000 or the Report an Outage form.
• Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)
• Verizon: 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
• RCN: 1-866-TECH-RCN (1-866-832-4726) 
• MBTA Service updates

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