Snow! Finally. But barely measurable.

Driving home from work Friday morning was such a pretty sight along the Merritt I had to stop and take this picture. Looks like a nice park, but its actually from the gas station off the parkway in Greenwich.

Unfortunatley by the time I was home in New York City, there was no snow left in Central Park for my dog to root through. So she is still waiting for her first snow of the season.

Her dilemma is a little like that of some children in southwestern Connecticut. It snowed throughout the region Thursday night leaving a dusting to a half an inch. And when they woke up for school Friday morning, it was lightly snowing again. Unfortunately for them, still NOT a snow day.

We had an interesting conversation Friday morning just before starting the newscast at 5:30. That morning's light snow had not started yet, and we were trying to figure out what to call the snow that had fallen Thursday night. Of course it was the first time the utilities crews sent out the trucks to treat the roadways, and we had video of that. But, could we really call it a measurable snow fall?  In some areas, the snow melted as it touched the ground. In others, like Wilton and Redding, we had reports of up to a half-an-inch accumulating. So, I asked our morning weather guru, Paul Piorek, and he said records go by the Weather Station at Sikorsky airport. He said at that point there was no measurable snow there, meaning ultimately our first snow wouldn't be recorded as having been a snowfall!

But, by later in the morning it started snowing again, leaving another layer. So, finally. More than halfway through January, snow!  It's finally here. Time now for me to start perusing travel sites for my warm weather beach get-away!

Breaking a No-Snow Record

The lastest southwestern Connecticut has ever had its first snow fall of the season is January 11th. Since it's not going to snow today, we're breaking a record.

This is a picture of my aunt's house in New Mexico. Last month she got 18-inches of snow. Southwestern Connecticut got none!

SInce our region hasn't had snow yet this winter, some residents are a bit BUGGED!

Some say they just like the seasons and feel they are missing out. For others, business has been bad. Sales of snow-related gear is down. And for the kids they just want a Snow Day off to play.

Weather statistics from the past 40-years are compiled to compose average snowfall amounts. Thanks to my morning weather man, Paul Piorek for these numbers.

The average monthly snowfall based on 40 years of averages (climatology)
November: 0.6"
December: 4.9"
January: 8.5"

But looking at the ACTUAL snowfall for southwestern Connecticut:
November 2006: None; November 2005: 1.0"
December 2006: None; December 2005: 11.5"
January 2007: None; January 2006: 5.5"

Yet these stats don't mean we'll skip winter. Look at what happened last year. The majority of the snow fell in February. So much, in fact, the storm on the 11th and 12th was categorized as a federal emergency.

Plus, March 2nd, 2006 was a day off for kids; snow day! There was even a dusting of snow on the first day of Spring! Speaking of Spring, it's only 69 days away. Only ten weeks to go. (As you can tell I'm not one of the people pleading for snow.)

However, here is something funny I found. Easter candy out on the counter at a drugstore. Right there with all the Valentine's candy, chocolate eggs. I couldn't help but thinking, Easter candy out before the first snowfall of the winter season? It just so happened it was to the manager of the store I did my musing. He said he has boxes of it already in the back, and that those few boxes of eggs are all he has put out yet. But so far they're selling!

Resolutions: How Are You Doing?

This time of year we see numerous stories on New Year's Resolutions. However, when is the last time you noticed follow-ups in June? I think if we were reminded of our commitments throughout the year, we'd have a better success rate. It's said most resolutions are forgotten by the end of January!

As I was doing this year's "What's Bugging You" piece on keeping resolutions, a woman in Norwalk told me she never keeps resolutions so she never makes them. She also says she feels it's gimmicky. I think that's the key. We slosh champagne, we laugh and make resolutions for the New Year. However, they're not taken seriously.

For the past couple of years I've spoken with Stratford resident Dr. Donald Wetmore of the Productivity Institute for advice on keeping resolutions. He says he spend the first week of every year developing his game plan for his goals and resolutions. For instance, he says you can't succeed at saving money if you don't map out exactly how you are going to do it. 

So what are you going to do this year? I've created this web poll to see what most SAY they will do. I'll check back with you in June to see HOW you are doing.

While you are devising strategies to keep your resolutions, here are some links to facts related to and the history ofNew Year's Resolutions.

Born in 1974: The Nixon-Ford year

With the war in Iraq, the uncertainty of Social Security, the demise of the pension plan, a record number of Americans living without health insurance, violence in public schools ... ( I guess I can stop the rant here you get the picture)I understand new parents' concerns about the future of their children. I'm sure you've heard at least one person say they wouldn't want to bring a child into this crazy time. I've heard several.

But let's look back to when I was born. January of 1974.

The Vietnam War was still going on. It didn't end till nearly a year and a half later, April of 1975 with the fall of the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces.

The president in January of 1974 was Richard Nixon, most remembered for scandalous Watergate, not so much ending the draft or actual ending of American fighting in Viet Nam. History recalls that era as another uncertain time. And even former President Gerald Ford who replaced Nixon when he stepped down from office in August of '74, described the time as a country in turmoil, facing riots along with a serious distrust of the White House.  In 1995 when an 8th grader asked the 38th President what he thought his most important accomplishment was, Ford said "healing America." Read the transcript of Mr. Ford's answer from Scholastic.

Of course the death of Gerald Ford is the prompt for these thoughts. Everything is internalized. One of the Presidents who was in office the year I was born died this past Tuesday. Being seven-months-old when he took office, no, I don't remember seeing much of him.

But look at what a great time we live in here in 2006 (nearly 07). If you have RealPlayer you can watch Mr. Ford's swearing in from 1974 via CSPAN. I am now listening to him speak while I write this.  He speaks of non-partisanship and not having campaigned for the job. " I am indebted to no man. And only to one woman, my dear wife. "

Having just endured the 2006 elections consumed with negative attack ads, check out a Ford 1976 campaign ad. He narrowly lost to Jimmy Carter. But despite the feel-good platform he was riding on, his presidency dealt with inflation, talk of a depressed economy, issues of energy shortages and world peace. Hmmmm...

I'm glad I was born in 1974. While we may face similar or even worse challenges than we did 33 years ago, look at the privileges and technology we have to enjoy and advance today.

Boxing Day

If you happen to glance at your calendar on the day after Christmas, you'll see right along with the start of Kwanzaa, its also Boxing Day (C). That "C" means Boxing Day is a Canadian-observed holiday, but its also a legal day off in the UK, Ireland and other countries.

In case you are wondering, Boxing Day has nothing to do with boxing. The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, has no events planned for this day. (Though just earlier this month the 2007 inductees were announced.)

Boxing Day goes back in time to when the working class gave boxes of food and fruit to tradespeople and servants the day after Christmas as a token of appreciation of their work over the years. Its similar to the modern day practice of giving tips or gifts to doormen, your delivery service or anyone else that provides a service. Read more from Snopes.com. 

It was also the day the servants had off after working the holiday celebration. Wikipedia lists other believed origins, as well as how it is currently celebrated in European countries.

Boxing Day Test (Test Match cricket)  Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race   English and Scottish Football matches

Junkanoo is celebrated in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Boxing Day Dip - in certain UK coastal towns, people wade into the sea on boxing day - often in fancy dress, and usually to raise money for a local charity.

What's more football matches are played in Northern Ireland, almost every retailer holds a Boxing Day Sale, and horseraces are held in Hong Kong.

If you'd like to celebrate Boxing Day, a tip from ehow.com includes seeing a sporting event. Fortunately that shouldn't be too difficult, and you might even find a bit of boxing of sorts. The New York Rangers play the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum tonight at 7:30 pm.

Also, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have a home game this Boxing Day against the Hershey Bears at 7:30 p.m.

If your cheer is spread thin, maybe you'll get some oomph back by Thursday. Celebrate Boxing Day then with some college basketball. The Sacred Heart women play at home in Fairfield on Thursday at 2:00.

What's Cooking-- So You Don't Have To !

All this weekend on "What's Cooking" on News 12 Connecticut we have a special holiday edition of wine pairing and holiday dinner recipes. While it may be too late to change this year's menu, if something comes up and you need to quickly pull something together, I suggest the beef filet wrapped in bacon. The recipe is courtesy of  Stew Leonard's, and the executive chef Georges Llorens says you can use turkey bacon if you want to cut fat or not use pork. We show you how to put it together on this weekend's show, but here is the recipe for clarification.

Also, Stew's in Norwalk is doing something different this year. There is a new holiday menu where you can order pre cooked meals for up to... name any number. The menu includes a Traditional Beef Wellington with truffles and Foie Gras ( Chef Georges also shares this recipe on this weekend's "What's Cooking" ) as well as Seafood Paella and roast Cornish Game Hens. 

Okay, now for the laugh.

While the crew from Stew's was at the station, they brought the store's latest commercial to my attention. During the shoot on the farm with cows, they explained how the cows just wouldn't stand there and cooperate. They were pushing and bumping Leonard out of the way. They said the ad agency originally put together a serious commerical from the shoot, but kept all the outtakes as a laugh for the company. Ultimately they decided the problems with the cows made the better commercial. So here it is if you haven't seen it. Silly cows.

Cookies and Love Needed

Anyone who can get me to want to bake cookies for her is either asking for a tremendous cause, or is just extremely persuasive. In this case, it's both.

Let me tell you about a woman who has done something no Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray or even Emeril could do.

JoAnn Keene has me baking cookies, and I hope by the time you hear her story you will too. Or at least donate your old coat to her.

Keene is the Home School Coordinator at McKinley School in the East End of Bridgeport. She spends her day, and from what I see, every waking hour year-round working to help people in need. The day I met her, she ran around introducing me to everyone on staff at the school. She is the first person parents know, because she reaches out. Not only does she visit classrooms to try to figure out what students need, she makes sure parents and older siblings have coats and clothes as well. She says, "they need to be warm too!"

Keene has one room at the school where she stores as many coats, blankets, cribs and extra clothes as she can. Currently she says she doesn't have as many adult coats as she needs. But she says if only she could get a trailer, or some sort of storage area, she'd fill it with donated items and offer them to anyone in the community who needed a change of clothes or bite to eat.

It might sound like an extreme desire at a school where education budget cuts have cost them after-school programs and a computer lab. But the principal at McKinley, Mr.William Rice, says he supports anything Keene says she wants to do because he knows she is capable, even if she has to do all on her own. He says he was amazed at her past Thanksgiving drive. He said he watched her, from October, compile names for donations, aquire donations, then pack all the boxes herself. He said she then packed the majority of the items in her own car and drove to homes to makes sure everyone had a turkey. At one point she had to drive from agency to agency to find turkeys for some homes.

Keene needs cookies for the Christmas Pageant at McKinley School. It is Wednesday, December 20th at the school at 342 Logan. She'd also love cupcakes, cake, chips, snacks or any other favorite dish.

That is one project. Her other holiday undertaking is Zandra's Kids. Back in 2001, she says a young, beautiful, talented angel walked into the school looking for ways to help. It was Alexandra Ducsay of Milford. Together, Keene and Duscay spent the past five years collecting toys for students at different schools. However, this past May, after Ducsay had signed a contract for an acting gig, she was found beaten to death at the steps of her home. Milford police say the case is still open and no arrests have been made.

Keene is not about to give up Zandra's Kid's. She hopes to take it even further over the years, no matter how long it takes. She says they had a larger vision. They wanted to bring professional dancers into the school to teach the children how to take care of their bodies and feet. She wants to teach ballet, hip hop, african and jazz and call it "Zandra's Dance School at McKinley."

Yet for now Keene needs cookies. She needs coats. She needs donations. She says its wonderful people go to Africa and adopt and send money, but she says "my babies right here in Bridgeport need help too!"

If you can volunteer or donate in any way, contact Joann Keene at 203-333-7194 or 203-576-8037.