Wishes for a good coating of white for Christmas were met exuberantly by nature Sunday when about a foot of snow fell across the region.
Low temperatures accompanying the precipitation made for a light and fluffy snow. How light and fluffy, however, depended on whether you were cutting through it with a snowblower or lifting it with a shovel.
According to the National Weather Service in Gray, the Lewiston-Auburn region received between 10 and 14 inches from the storm that began around 9 p.m. Saturday, wrapping up throughout the morning Sunday.
By noon Sunday, the National Weather Service had suspended its winter storm warning for the area.
Accumulation numbers started coming in Sunday afternoon, with Greene receiving 11 inches, Lewiston just over 9 inches and Gray at 10.5 inches. As of Sunday evening York County topped the charts for snow accumulation with Biddeford recording 16.5 inches.
Locally, some church services were canceled, and civic organizations stayed home. The Junior Pirates Hockey players also had to cancel a Christmas party they were putting on at St. Mary’s assisted-living residences.
About 100 kids, ranging from 3 to 13 were supposed to distribute about 120 presents to the residents. Gifts were taken from wish trees the players set up where residents hung a gift wish for themselves.
The Junior Pirates plan on rescheduling the event.
At the Auburn Mall, occasional shoppers wandered the center tiles, casually looking over books or sale items displayed outside each business.
Even Santa appeared more sedate than jolly, alone in his giant chair. “I had to leave my sleigh at home,” he said, favoring his one-ton 7.3 liter diesel pickup while Rudolph relaxed.
Santa said he thinks football may be a contributing factor in the abnormally light traffic at his booth. Santa cautioned, however, not to tell him the score as he is recording the game and spoilers may land you on the naughty list.
“It’s slow, extremely slow,” said Santa’s photographer, Ellie Gagnon of Lewiston. She said that the Santa photo booth, run by Photo Finish, would commonly see 100 photos on a Sunday, a far cry from the 13 taken Sunday.
Gagnon said she thinks most parents came out Saturday in anticipation of the storm, as the booth scored around 300 photos with the line wrapping halfway around the Santa display.
“People are too tired to come out after shoveling,” Gagnon said, debating whether to close the booth at 5 p.m. instead of the scheduled 5:30. She said she hoped pet day on Monday will see numbers bounce back.
A few feet away, Nola Comingore of Auburn was wrapping a present for one of the few shoppers to brave the elements. The gift wrap booth benefits the Edward Little Music Association.
Although describing traffic as “pretty slow,” Comingore said they always get a few last-minute shoppers and grandparents who need a good wrapping.
Proceeds from the wrapping booth will be used for middle and high school students to purchase instruments, uniforms and a trip to New York in the spring.
Comingore said such trips are scheduled every four years to ensure kids have an opportunity to go once in their high school years. This year, the students will perform at Rutgers University.
While business is down a little from last year, Comingore said with confidence, “Next week is the big push.”
Although cleanup is well underway, parking bans remain in effect until 6 a.m. Monday in Lewiston and 7 a.m. Monday in Auburn.
dmcintire@sunjournal.com
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- Chris Crowley clears a path in front of his home on Lilac Hill in Lewiston on Sunday. Crowley said that the crest of the hill on Webber Ave. has been known as Lilac Hill since a previous owner of Crowley’s home planted numerous lilacs around the perimeter of the the property.
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- “A break every now and then ain’t bad,” said Roger Vachon as he dug out from Sunday’s storm on Boston Avenue in Lewiston. Vachon’s snowblower broke down, so he had to revert to shoveling.
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- Daniel Boyd, second from left, and his brother Christopher, fourth from left, earn extra spending money after helping shovel their aunt’s driveway on Stevens Street in Lewiston on Sunday. From left are homeowner Sheron Lessard, Daniel Boyd, 9, of Poland, Diane Dubois of Lewiston, Christopher Boyd, 7, of Poland and Jerry Lessard of Lewiston.
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- Christmas decorations lay covered in snow at the home of Ray and Claire Therriault in Lewiston on Sunday.
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- Tim Smith clears his driveway in Lewiston on Sunday.
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- Marcel St. Pierre and Pat Levesque clear their driveway in Lewiston on Sunday. “I should be in Florida,” joked Levesque.
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- As posted on the Photo Finish Facebook page, Santa relaxes while reading the Sun Journal on a slow, snowy day at the Auburn Mall. Santa’s photographer Ellie Gagnon of Lewiston, said only 13 photos were taken Sunday, a far cry from their usual 100 for a weekend.
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