Some residents in the Fox Chapel Area School District bundled up and ventured out during the blizzard conditions Jan. 25 as mega winter storm Fern pummeled the Pittsburgh region with snowfall.
The Wiley family of Fox Chapel decided to make a Steelers-themed snowman, and pint-sized Bennett Wiley, 3, helped.
“My favorite part of the snow day was drinking hot chocolate,” Bennett said.
The snowfall Sunday shattered a previous record for Jan. 25 — 5.2 inches — set in 2014.
Nearly 9 inches of snow fell by 2 p.m. at the National Weather Service’s office in Moon.
All that snow led to serious snow removal measures for O’Hara resident Dan Borkovich.
Borkovich resembled a Ghostbuster as he channeled his inner snowbuster, wearing a backpack-style, high-powered leaf blower to clear his property.
“I appreciate my husband who goes out in the snow and cold, making our driveway and walkway clear,” Jackie Borkovich said.
As a nurse, Jackie Borkovich said she has a love-hate relationship with the snow.
“I love the beauty of the snow and I feel like I’m in a snow globe, but I also realize how many people have to put their lives on the line to go out in the snow,” she said.
The Borkoviches said this snowstorm is one they’ll remember.
They even snapped scenic photographs of a majestic white-tailed buck in their yard.
“This will definitely be a snowfall for the books. I hope everyone stays safe and warm these next few days and checks on our neighbors that might need a hand,” Jackie Borkovich said.
One Fox Chapel couple, both very familiar with brutal Pittsburgh winters, took a spontaneous snowstorm strategy to avoid winter weather.
Fox Chapel native Steve Zakman and his fiancee, Angela Lauria, who grew up in New Jersey, booked a last-minute flight to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Zakman posted a tropical vacation pic to his Facebook page Sunday.
“Checking in with my East Coast kiddos,” it playfully read.
Zakman said the freezing forecast helped to spur their travel decision.
“We were getting sick of the cold and then when they started talking about the storm, we decided,” Zakman said. “Strangely, I’m a little bummed that we missed the big storm. I enjoy ‘big weather’ events.”
In Sharpsburg, Mayor Kayla Portis bundled up from head to toe to drive around and check on snow conditions in the borough.
No significant snow woes were reported in any of the municipalities in the school district.
Snow much fun
The Avart siblings, Talia, 3, and her brother, Hayden, 6, used a snow shovel to create a large snow fort along Western Avenue in Aspinwall.
Dad Josh Avart was thrilled the snowstorm fell over the weekend.
“The parents loved it that it fell on a weekend, so everyone could truly enjoy being snowed in together,” Avart said.
A trio of Sharpsburg relatives united to volunteer snow shoveling for neighbors beginning at 8 a.m. during below-freezing temperatures and howling snow squalls.
“My dad and brothers were out there shoveling in the dark with headlamps,” said Rachel Horne of her father, Russ, and brothers Justin and Nolan. “They were volunteering, but people gave money anyways which was nice.”
The Horne family has lived on Middle Street for 23 years.
“They handed out cards that read ‘You Matter to God’ and got to talk and connect with the residents,” Rachel Horne said.
Aspinwall resident Steve Kochanowski ventured out all day in the borough to photograph the recond snowfall.
He took lots of pics and posted them to the Aspinwall Community Page, a popular Facebook group.
Later, he pitched in volunteering for shoveling duties at his church in the borough.
“Our town looks like a snow globe when it’s like this,” he said.
