Staff Writer 

 Harold “Sonny” Young hasn’t “taken a snow day” from his job driving a plow truck for Cape Elizabeth Public Works in 38 years. 

“I’d have to say 1971 was the worst [winter],” he said. “We had two storms hit back to back right around Christmas, real big nor’easters. You have to be ready to give up your Christmases, birthdays and weddings in this job.”

This year, Young said several storms after Christmas have made it difficult to find places to push the snow and dodge mailboxes and signs buried in snow banks. He and other public works employees spent several days last week cleaning up after a snow and rain storm that kept many roads icy up to 24 hours after precipitation stopped falling.

“Snow with rain is the worst,” he said. “But we take it in stride.”

South Portland Public Works Director Dana Anderson said the ice storm that kicked off this winter season cost the city an estimated $100,000 in wages and supplies. He said 2,800 tons of salt have been strewn across the city’s roadways so far.

“We typically use between 3,500 and 4,000 tons,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll be way over that this year.”

Cape Elizabeth Public Works Director Bob Malley said public works crews have used approximately 900 tons of salt to combat the snow and ice that has fallen during this winter’s nine “plowable” storms.

“It has been an expensive winter so far,” he said.

Despite their increase use this winter, Malley said plow trucks and other snow removal equipment – including a 30-year-old grater – have not had any major breakdowns.

“We lost a hydraulic line, which is pretty standard,” he said. “I think we broke a chain shackle, needed a new air line and a valve too. These are just nuisance breakdowns.”

Cape Elizabeth School Superintendent Alan Hawkins said the town’s school buildings have not sustained any damage this winter, despite a problem with the middle school roof caused by severe rain this fall.

“We have people who go out and shovel snow when it piles up,” he said. “The maintenance workers keep a very close eye on [the middle school roof].”

As of Tuesday, Hawkins said school had been canceled twice and delayed twice this year.

“We do try to be extremely careful,” he said. “[Last week’s storm] was one of those tough days, we probably could have had school in the morning, but thank God we didn’t have buses on the road that afternoon.”

The cancellations make June 17 the final day of Cape Elizabeth’s academic calendar, two days after South Portland summer break is scheduled to begin. Secretary to the superintendent Maria Sorensen said three full school days had been canceled so far, making June 15 the last day of school in South Portland.

When it comes to spring, National Weather Service Meteorologist John Cannon said the next 41 days are some of the most difficult in a traditional winter season. 

“We’re getting into the stormy part, typically mid-February and March tends to be a busy part of the season,” he said.

Cannon said this winter has been colder than most – temperatures didn’t leave the 30s last month – which means any snow that has fallen is most likely still on the ground.

“It’s been dry, fluffy snow that tends to pile up fast and we haven’t really lost any of that snow,” he said. “It gives the impression of a really snowy winter.”

Monday, Cannon said more than 55 inches of snow had fallen in Portland, more than a foot above normal, and the cold temperatures were expected to continue through next week.