Patch Facts

5 Things: Town Meeting Returns Tonight

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on April 22 in Lexington.

1. Town Meeting's Back Tonight: At 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall. 2. Minuteman Technical Institute Open House: Minuteman Technical Institute will be hosting several open houses this spring for interested students to learn about post-graduate programs and the application process, and one of them is at 7 p.m. tonight at Minuteman High in Lexington.  3. Other Public Meetings: According to the town website, other public meetings posted for today include the Greenway Corridor Committee at 4:30 p.m. at Cary Hall, the Board of Selectmen at 6 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Lexington High School Council at 6 p.m. at LHS, the Appropriation Committee at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building and the Capital Expenditures Committee at 7 p.m. at Cary …

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REPORTS: Phil Facing Indictment ... Our Groundhog Got It Right

He provided false hope (allegedly). She never said we'd enjoy an early spring.

  Perhaps you've heard by now, on this fourth official day of spring, that a couple of guys in Ohio have indicted Punxsutawney Phil on charges the groundhog knowingly incited false hope among the region by prognosticating an early start to spring when he emerged shadowless from his burrow early last month. And so this morning, as we curse the potential for still more snow on Monday evening, it seems a fine time to remind ourselves: Our groundhog got this. Mrs. G, the prognosticating groundhog who lives at nearby Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, saw her shadow and correctly forecasted six more weeks of winter when she did her thing on Feb. 2. Click on the video above to see Ms. G in action. We have no rodents to blame if we weren't well prepped for…

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MAP: How Much Snow Has Fallen in Lexington?

Lexington is expecting a foot of snow or more from this week's storm. See how many inches have fallen in your area with the LIVE map below.

The map above, provided by the National Weather Service, shows total snowfall in the Lexington area over the past 3 days. The map is centered around the red marker, which is in the middle of Lexington's coverage area, and the map updates every six hours, starting around 2 a.m. each day. Note: This map is not visible on some mobile devices.

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You Ask, Patch Answers

When Is the Last Day of School?

As February vacation winds down with snow showers in the forecast for four out of the next seven days, some are wondering when the Lexington Public Schools are scheduled to let out for summer vacation.

As February vacation winds down and we head into a weekend wherein forecasts are calling for up to another foot of snow, it seems like an appropriate time to peek ahead at when the 2012-2013 school year might end.    According to the Lexington Public Schools most recent calendar, published last Wednesday, Feb. 13, the tentative final day of school will be Friday, June 21. Planned makeup days, if needed, will be June 24, 25 and 26. And the Lexington High graduation, meanwhile, is scheduled for Sunday, June 9. Of course, this is all subject to change. And possible snow showers are in the forecast for four out of the next seven days.

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Was Holding School Today the Right Choice for Lexington?

When the announcement was made that the Lexington Public Schools would be in session today, Feb. 11, some parents seemed pleased. But with sidewalks and parking lots still snow-covered, the morning commute was difficult for some.

The recent blizzard blanketed Lexington under almost two feet of snow, but the roads around town are clear and school officials decided to hold school today, Feb. 11. That announcement was made Sunday, and with it came encouragement from school officials that parents should drive their children to school today, because many sidewalks and parking lots are still snowy. Meanwhile, plowing operations are expected to continue for the next few days to widen roadways and re-open sidewalk around town. As the latest and last mass communication from the town reports: “Sidewalks are being plowed, but due to the amount of snow it will take several days for all sidewalks to be passable.” With that in mind, in an automated call last night, LPS officials…

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Avoid a Roof Collapse: Clear Snow From Your Rooftop

Light, fluffy snow on rooftops can act as a sponge for rain, which is in the forecast for Monday. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency offers these tips.

With rain/sleet/snow and more rain in Lexington's forecast for Monday, the Blizzard of '13 may not be finished wreaking havoc in Massachusetts. While temperatures dropped overnight on Friday resulting in light, fluffy snow, he Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) warns that fluffy snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing rain and adding additional stress to structures. Relatively flat roofs are particularly vulnerable, MEMA says. In other cases, roof ice dams have formed causing water build-up, leading to interior damage. These conditions can accelerate the snowmelt. To minimize the risk of over-stressing a building roof due to accumulated or drifting snow: Information from a release by the Massachusetts …

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MAP: How Much Snow Has Fallen in Lexington?

Thanks to Winter Storm Nemo, Lexington is expecting 2 feet snow, or more, this weekend! See how many inches have fallen in your area with the LIVE map below.

The map above, provided by the National Weather Service, shows snowfall in the past 24 hours. It is updated every 6 hours and centered around Lexington Patch's coverage area.  This is not a map showing overall snow depth: It only tracks the amount of snow that has fallen in the past day.

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