York Mayor Kim Bracey has declared a snow emergency effective at 5 p.m. today.

Starting at that time, vehicles can park in the King Street and Philadelphia Street garages for free.

Snow emergency parking is not permitted at the Market Street garage, which is under construction.

Residents who live along the snow emergency routes must move their cars or they will be towed, at a cost of $140.
  
Snow emergency routes in the city are:

•    Market Street, city limit to city limit
•  Philadelphia Street, city limit to Carlisle Avenue
• Queen Street, city limit to Arch Street
• George Street, city limit to city limit
• Princess Street, city limit to city limit
• Duke Street, Jackson Street to North Street
• W. King Street from South Beaver Street to South George Street
• Beaver Street from North Street to West College Avenue
  

   

Last week, a scheduled Clean Sweep was canceled because of snow, and it was rescheduled for this Wednesday (Feb. 10).

And now that another snowstorm is on its way, that one's canceled, too.

The city release says it will be rescheduled at a later date.

Maybe we just have to wait til spring.

I looked through the online photo gallery this morning and spotted a few snow pictures sent in from the city -- namely Wayne Avenue and Lincoln Park.

Did you take photos from the storm? You can share them here.

Or just take a look at everyone else's photos -- someone posted an old one from Red Lion during a 1958 storm.

Beginning at 6 p.m. today, traffic and parking will be restricted on downtown streets in York for snow removal.

Streets affected are:

• Market Street, from Pershing Avenue to Queen Street
• George Street, between Philadelphia Street and King Street
  

All cars must be removed from the area at that time.

City residents are asked to be patient when it comes to trash collection in the winter, according to a news release. 

Wind, rain, snow and ice present additional challenges for collection crews and often result in injuries, such as sprains or frostbite, it states.

Collections also take longer. Crews start as early as 6 a.m. and might not finish until 9 p.m. 

To help:

•  Place trash in securely-tied bags or in trash cans with tight-fitting lid
• When it snows, customers should use dark colored bags so they can be seen against the snow-covered ground
• Uncover and clear a path to the trash
• If there's heavy snow accumulation, place items on top of or in front of snow piles
• If it's windy, consider holding recyclables until the following week
  

Friday afternoon update: Residents should not shovel snow onto the curb cuts, which forces individuals in wheelchairs out into the street.

City property owners are reminded that snow and ice must be removed from their sidewalks within 12 hours after the snow stops falling.

Those who don't remove the snow can be fined. A 36-inch-wide path must be cleared on the entire length of the sidewalk.

It is also a violation of city law to put snow in the street. Those who do will be fined, according to a news release.

I think that particular point drove the city crazy during the last storm. Jim Gross, the city's public works director, said the city doesn't have time or manpower to replow streets when residents throw the snow back into the street.
     
 

York Mayor Kim Bracey has declared a snow emergency, effective at 5 p.m. today.

Starting at that time, vehicles can park in the King Street and Philadelphia Street garages for free, and parking there will be allowed for the duration of the emergency.

Residents who live along snow emergency routes must move their vehicles or they will be towed. The towing charge is $140. The snow emergency routes are:

•  Market Street, city limit to city limit
• Philadelphia Street, city limit to Carlisle Avenue
• Queen Street, city limit to Arch Street
• George Street, city limit to city limit
• Princess Street, city limit to city limit
• Duke Street, Jackson Street to North Street
• West King Street from South Beaver to South George Streets
• Beaver Street from North Street to West College Avenue
  

 

Leadership training will be offered for city residents by Resources for Urban Neighborhoods and the Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association.

A series of training sessions, based on a program developed by Neighborworks America, will cover topics such as meeting facilitation, effective communication, conflict resolution and membership retention.

Sessions will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, March 25, April 22, and May 27 at Asbury United Methodist Church, 340 E. Market St., York. Dinner will be provided.

Seating is limited to 15 participants. Call Jessica Fieldhouse at 843-7884 ext. 243 to register.
     
     
 

Yesterday, as I worked on this story about a time capsule of sorts found behind bricks at the Codo 28 project, my editor asked why that building at 28 N. George St. is known as the Altland-Smyser building.

I didn't know.

I called Eric Menzer at Wagman Construction. He said he didn't know. It's just always been called that.

So I called Lila Fourhman-Shaull at the York County Heritage Trust. She said she didn't know. She suggested I try Historic York.

I called there, but it was already getting late and I couldn't reach anyone. Jim McClure, editor and historian, gave me a few books to hunt through for the answer, but I came up dry.

But this morning, an e-mail from Margaret Reis solved the mystery.

Devers Area Neighborhood Association
     
Area covered: Route 30 to Pennsylvania Avenue, Parkway Boulevard to Roosevelt Avenue. About 1,100 homes.
    
Officers: President, Joe Stein; Treasurer, Kevin Lenkner
     
Meetings: 6:30 p.m., second Wednesday, every other month, Yorktown Community Center, 1059 Kelly Drive

About: "For a neighborhood within the city, we have a very suburban feel," said Stein. There are only a few businesses, he said, but the neighborhood is home to Yorktown and Lincoln parks and convenient to Route 30 and the West Manchester Mall. 
   
Contact: jstein3@comcast.net
     
Online: Facebook fan page
     
What's new: The group is trying to recruit new members. Stein said he wants more residents to come to meetings, not only if they have an issue, but just to socialize and meet their neighbors. The group always does a holiday dinner, and he's hoping to start some other events.

(File photo below shows April Sampson, left, and Shannon Griffith at a safety awareness event hosted by the neighborhood association last year. African dancing was among the festivities.)