February begins with a nor’easter

Glen Cove residents awoke to see their lawns and vehicles covered in snow and the snowflakes were still coming, adding to the pile on Monday morning.

A massive nor'easter out of the west swept across Long Island early Monday, leaving roughly a foot of snow in Glen Cove. Nassau County and town officials urged people to stay off the roads during the storm if they could because the road conditions were already "treacherous" by Monday morning.

Roni Chastain of Glen Cove tackled the snow early Monday morning. “I like to do it before it gets too deep,” she said. “The snow is light. It was much heavier the last time it snowed.”

Glen Cove Police Department Chief Willian Whitton said there were no car accidents in Glen Cove Police had asked the public to keep all vehicles off the roadways or on the odd-side of the street only or risk a summons. Residents could also leave their cars in the city’s parking garages, which Whitton said was at full capacity with residents taking advantage of the option.

“That cleared out a lot of the roadways which made it easier for the plow people to clear up the roads,” he said. “It’s a testament to the fact that people were heeding the advice of people like the mayor, others and myself. In years past, you would see people driving around in cars that had absolutely no business being out there.”

School districts across the county closed ahead of the storm, including the Glen Cove City School District. No in-person or remote instruction was held on Monday but remote learning was in effect on Tuesday.

“I think it’s important to keep some things as they were, pre-pandemic,” said Glen Cove resident Nita Pugkhem-George regarding the traditional snow day on Monday. “The kids really need it. Families really need it. Teachers deserve it.”

Pugkhem-George said she was able to have some family time on Monday, building snow people outside and having a carefree and school-free day.

Fellow Glen Cover Marisa Pomerantz Macnow said it was a board game and baking day for her family. They made mud cakes and chocolate truffles, played “Scrabble” and watched the dogs barrel through the snow.

Power outages were expected but there were none in Glen Cove. There were delays and service disruptions on the Long Island Rail Road and NICE Bus. 

For more on NICE Bus, go to nicebus.com. For more on the LIRR, go to mta.info.

Laura Lane contributed to this story.