From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
February 23, 2026
It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
– Fred Rogers, 1990
helping hands & shovels conquer 2′-deep snow
On Friday, about the same time Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for Long Island, due to the oncoming blizzard likely bring 18-24″ of snow, Ring Neighbors posts started popping up on my phone asking if anyone knew anyone who shovels snow in our area.
There were few positive replies.
Early Sunday afternoon, after I charged devices, batteries, and lanterns, and before the rain turned to snow, our next-door neighbor Kirk, who’s much closer to my daughters’ ages than mine, came over to say, “Make sure to contact us if you need any help during the snowstorm.” Touched by his concern, I said I’d text his wife if something went wrong.
When Kirk added, “Don’t worry about the snow. We won’t leave you blocked in,” he might have gotten a rainy hug if my hands weren’t full.
Merrick, New York, U.S., February 23, 2026. Kirk and his two sons shovel their neighbor’s home on the south shore of Nassau County, after a northeast snowstorm dropped about two feet of snow across Long Island. (© 2026 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)
Happily, by the time I started writing this on Monday, hours after the snow stopped, the “Anyone shoveling in Merrick?” Ring posts often got several positive replies – about college-aged snow shovelers and people with snow blowers or plows – and were eventually marked “Resolved.”
Also on Monday, crews in large snowplows from the Town of Hempstead Highway Department cleared our street well enough to allow traffic to travel slowly and safely. And the plows didn’t create a Wall of China snow barrier across the entrance to our driveway.
The snow was massive and heavy, and the wind gusts were strong. Snow weighed down the top half of a leafless shrub in the front yard, and a tall, plump shrub (a favorite background for portraits) in the corner of the backyard, so severely that most branches plunged into the snow on the ground. I don’t remember the last time that happened.
But, luckily, no one in our area lost power because of the storm.
In fact, there were no widespread power outages on Long Island, according to PSEG Long Island, mypowermap.psegliny.com. For the 1% of Long Islanders who lost power, PSEG announced it’s working around the clock to restore theirs.
We’re lucky to have many neighbors who’ve pitched in and helped with snow over the years, including our other next-door neighbor and his son, and our neighbor across the street, who helped his next-door neighbors today.
• Eleven winters ago, in 2015, I captured this photo of Artie clearing our sidewalk, after using his snowblower to clear his and other neighbors’ sidewalks:
Merrick, New York, U.S., March 5, 2015. ARTIE uses his snow blower to clear the sidewalk in front of his neighbor’s house as snow falls yet again. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com).
all neighbors, great and small
Wildlife feeders can be lifesavers during snowy winters like this one.
Merrick, New York, USA. January 23, 2016. As Blizzard Jonas brings dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island, a red male cardinal and several wrens eat seeds from a variety of hanging bird feeders in the photographer’s backyard, with much more snow expected throughout Saturday and early Sunday. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)
Tuesday’s just minutes away….
May our neighbors have filled bird feeders, restored power, and Ring posts asking for snow shovelers quickly marked “Resolved.”
FEATURE PHOTO: Merrick, New York, U.S., Feb. 23, 2026. Kirk and his two sons shovel their neighbor’s home on the south shore of Nassau County, after a northeast snowstorm dropped about two feet of snow across Long Island. (© 2026 Ann Parry)
Neighbors Shovel after Snowstorm 2026: GALLERY
• Added 3/5/2026:
Birds Aren’t Just Declining. They’re Declining Faster: NYT Article