The calendar says today is the last day of winter.

We’re over the bitter cold of February, but not close enough to spring to feel that first warm breeze. When we step out, we “sense” the weather. We look toward the sky and we sniff the breeze, feel how damp the air is. We probe for any sign of spring. It will be here any day. Temperatures are unremarkable, hovering a little above freezing. About all you can say is that it’s not really cold.

The sun is gone, and we hover between rain and snow and sleet. Waiting. The rain and wind attack the receding piles of dirty snow and ice. The piles are ugly now, riddled with gravel and debris. We don’t like to look at them. They surrender their moisture, their essence. It floats skyward, like the dying spirit of Winter, returning to its beginning. Any day now, it’ll be Spring.

Nothing but more winter is in the immediate forecast. This morning (2/29/08) the temperature downtown was a bone-chilling -7 degrees fahrenheit. High temperatures were predicted to approach freezing, but at 3 PM the temperature was still in the mid-twenties.

The good news? When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb.

Wednesday night gave North America its best view of a lunar eclipse since 2004. The skies over Bradford, PA were partly cloudy, giving intermittent glimpses of the moon as it progressed through the eclipse.

At 10pm EST temperatures were in the single digit range as the eclipse went into totality. The cold, clear February sky helped to give a crystal clarity to the spectacle.

If you don’t live in the norther part of the U.S. you might not know the pleasures of winter driving. In the hills around Bradford, PA it’s all just part of life at this time of year. Winter driving can be slippery, tricky, and dangerous, but at least we don’t have traffic jams around here.

“As I look around me,
a bright sky I see,
and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!”

Even as Punxsutawney Phil predicted that we’ll see six more weeks of winter, it was hard to believe that anything cast a shadow today.

This week’s weather is predicted to be overcast and cloudy with temperatures hovering slightly above freezing.

Speaking of the winter blues, are you looking for something to do on Superbowl Sunday? Consider coming to the 5th Annual Big Game Party & Wing Contest, 6pm Sunday at the Open Arms Community Church, 1289 East Main Street in Bradford. Bring your best wing sauce and enter the contest, or just bring a dish or drink to share. Everyone is invited!

The precautionary boil water advisory for the Bradford area has been lifted as of noon on Friday. The advisory had been issued after water main breaks caused a disruption in service to customers of the Bradford Water Authority.

Executive Director, Kim Benjamin, wished to thank Water Authority customers for their patience and cooperation during the past week. Water line breaks caused the Bradford water reserve to lose half of its volume of eight million gallons, creating a critical situation. The conservation efforts of customers allowed the system to return to normal winter operating conditions 24-36 hours ahead of the projected time.

When asked if the breaks occurred because the Bradford water system is old, Benjamin explained that our situation is no different from many systems in the north east that were originally built in the late nineteenth century. Some of our lines are as old as 120 years, but are operating without a problem. Other lines are much newer but tend to have more problems. More than age, there are many factors that effect the integrity of the water lines. Factors such as ground movement and water pressure can result in system leaks and it is very difficult to predict when or where they will occur. He likened the system to maintaining city streets. Some need paved frequently and develop pot holes often, while others last for years. It’s not practical to repave every street, but when potholes occur they are filled.

Winter in Bradford can seem to drag on and on. We didn’t really get any snow until December. January, 2008 started off mild enough. Like the rest of the east coast, the last couple of weeks have been bitterly cold. If you’d like to discuss the weather, or anything else for that matter, visit our discussion forum, TalkAboutBradford.com.