By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Living in Upstate New York means snowy winters, from the thrill of winter sports to the dread of seemingly endless shoveling. Wherever they land on the spectrum of loving or hating snow, most people in the area hold an opinion on it. We spoke with a few of them.
“I enjoy the snow. I like ice fishing, hockey and cross country skiing.”
Dave Runeare, manager B&T Sports, Fulton
“I love the snow. I love downhill skiing. It’s what I live for in the winter. I’ve been doing it since high school, which would make it over a decade. I like to go to Whiteface, N.Y. I started out at Swain and Bristol Mountain. I love Whiteface if you catch the weather right. It’s just really good skiing there.”
Keith Miller, head mechanic at Murdock’s Bicycles and Sports, Oswego
“I run in the winter every day outside with my exercise machine with hair, Molly. She wants to go out and run, no matter the weather. At first, I didn’t like it, but I adapted to winter running with the right gear, including lighting for safety, good traction running shoes, face mask, gloves and hand warmers. I can’t even get a reflector vest on Molly; she will growl at me. She’s old school. I also ski on weekends with my wife.”
Randy Sabourin, team leader at Metro Fitness, Syracuse
“Winter is my favorite season. I live on Oneida Lake so I love to ice fish and I’m also an avid snowmobiler and I like downhill skiing. That keeps me pretty busy. I grew up doing these things. I go with my youngest son. We do a lot of these activities together.”
Michael Sattler, campus director, Bryant & Stratton College, Syracuse
“I spend a lot of time in the winter reading and quilting. Part of the time, I go to Florida on vacation. We own property down toward Florida so I can get away. I’m getting old enough that I don’t enjoy being cold.
“I don’t like wearing boots. I used to love to go sledding. I am originally from Buffalo, so it’s the same type of climate with lake effect, just a different lake.
“I like looking outside at the snow, as long as I’m just by the woodstove and warm and not out shoveling.”
Carol Ferlito, director of Oswego Public Library, Oswego
“I bought a house on a corner lot when I moved to Oswego. That’s a lot of shoveling. My feeling on snow is that it’s often heavy. I have to get up a lot earlier in the winter. And you have to stay on top of shoveling. I have two 3 1/2-year-olds, so I’m looking forward to a good season of sledding.”
Brett Groves, creative director at Zink Shirts, Oswego
“I love it when it first starts. I think it’s beautiful. I sometimes think our season is a little long. Around March or April is when I’m ready for the season to change. I go sledding with my kids.”
Jodi Marvin, owner of Your On Call Assistant in Oswego
“It’s beautiful and lovely when it first comes down. As long as I don’t have to shovel it or drive in it, it’s wonderful. I love making snowmen and snow angels, though.”
Cindy Swartwood, owner of Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery, Fulton
“I love winter. We go snowshoeing and we take our dogs out. I love coming home to a fire in the fireplace and the whole cozy scene.”
Kimberly Enders, owner of Red Schoolhouse Maple, LLC, Fulton
“I like ice skating. Otherwise, I like to be inside looking at the snow. I like it when I don’t have to drive in it. I don’t let much faze me, so I take snow in stride and try to do what I normally do.”
Pam Heleen, assistant president at Cayuga Community College
“At this point, I have lived in Oswego County my whole life. I grew up here, went to school here, and I went to Oswego State. I accept it as a way of life, pretty much. Life goes on, business as usual, snow or not. I used to downhill ski, but I haven’t done it in a while. My kids are too little at present, but I hope to get back into it when they get a little older.”
Zach Ali Menter, president and CEO of Menter Ambulance in Oswego, Fulton and Central Square
“I love it when it snows because I enjoy watching the ponies play in it.”
Barbara Bordonaro, owner of River House Farm Obstacle Training in Port Byron