#LehighDigOut; just an idea

It's been a while since I posted on this particular blog. But since I had a thought that could impact some folks on campus, let's see what might happen if I use this one to share an idea.

There are a significant number of student cars buried under snow. Because:
1. In a short period of time, there has been a significant amount of snow accumulated in Bethlehem.
2. even in dry weather, campus and South Bethlehem is challenged with too many cars, and not enough parking spaces.
3. snow removal on city streets has been complicated by parked cars snowed in and plows unable to get around them, so each time a new snow fall happens the same cars get more snow piled on them.

For a number of students who live off campus, there's also a challenge of where to put the snow - even if they had proper equipment to sign themselves out. Sure, they could walk to the hardware store on 4th street (Cantelmi's) and buy a shovel - if there were some in stock.

But what if the community rallied and helped out the poor folks, students and "townies" alike, who have their cars hopelessly buried?

We have a wonderful tradition on campus called "MOOV-in" where faculty, staff and orientation student leaders help move in the first year students into the dorms. It's a great welcoming experience for the students, and the nice bonding ritual for the staff who regularly participate. Why not take this same positive energy and help out the many students and folks who live in South Bethlehem to get cars moved in order to rediscover our curbs and parking lots?

I was working on a student's car this afternoon. With just the two of us and one hour, we were able to clear her tail pipe so she could at least make sure the engine turned over. I hope to help her finish the job so she can move her car to clear the entire parking space. She literally had snow and ice mounded from the plows.

I felt bad that I had to leave, but I only had an hour to spare today.

The best time to dig out cars is in the early afternoon, after the sun has warmed up the snow a bit. At night, all that warning turns into another layer of ice. Unless you have an ice breaker, the standard shovels aren't going to cut through it.

I wonder - how many people can dedicate some exercise time to helping others dig out their cars? We've got a few programs (Like the "Be Well") for staff, and a few smart people to help organize. It's not a "super storm" where folks are without power. But this really is a challenge for many folks.

So let's start on Wednesday, February 19th from 2-5pm on Webster street. We'll start at the corner of Webster and 5th street, and just move snow away from cars so that they might have a chance to move them. Bring a shovel, wear layers and be ready to lift and walk the snow across the street to a safe place. One shovel at a time. That's how this will go. The more people, the better the effort. I just hope the folks who own the cars won't freak out. I'll be leaving notes on them tonight.

It would be awesome if this effort could be coordinated with the City Snow Removal schedule. I called the streets department - and they are working on a schedule, but as we wait for that to be worked out, we have a lot of cars to dig out.

Seriously asking. Who wants to pitch in and help? Two weeks until Spring Break.