ALLENTOWN, Pa. – For many people, Monday was all about digging out from under the snow.
69 News talked to people in Allentown clearing off driveways and cars and also helping out their neighbors. We met Eddie Cartagena on Jefferson St. as he was snow blowing his driveway. He said the trick to clearing snow is to take it slow.
“Take breaks when you need to. I’ve been going in and out of the house, just taking breaks. Taking it little by little,” Cartegena told 69 News reporter Rob Manch.
And little by little he was not only getting his driveway cleared, but his neighbor’s as well.
“Every time it snows, I try to do hers for her, try to help her out, because I know she can’t do it,” said Cartegena.
His neighbor Carol Grim said her husband died several years back, and it’s a big help.
“I’m just fortunate to have the neighbors I have. They’re just wonderful, they really are,” said Grim.
Across town on 13th St., Jli Hernandez and Luci Smith did not have that help, or a snowblower to get their car out, just shovels.
“Two and a half hours, and we still have that red van over there to do, so it’s a long time. Body hurts for sure,” said Hernandez.
Over on the West End, Dominick Morasca said he learned several years ago a snow blower was the best tool for the job. Still, he said it’s been difficult to clear this much snow.
“It’s been a job. Started yesterday in the middle of it all. Came out a couple times, about every four hours, and still this morning it was a pain in the butt,” said Morasca.
A pain, but the City requires sidewalks to be clear within 10 hours after a storm. A deadline Cartagena is making sure he and his neighbor will meet.
“It’s nice to do things for other people, and I truly believe that if you do things for other people, nice things happen to you,” said Cartegena.