Boro. of North Arlington review: Snow Removal 3

Three days after the snowfall ended, and I cannot get off my street.

The whole neighborhood is immobilized. No garbage pick up, no deliveries, no nothing.

About an hour ago (4:00 a.m. on Tues. Dec. 28) a back hoe finally made a six foot path down Verhoeff Place on the side where the snow had drifted to five feet, freeing residents to at least try to leave the neighborhood.

But then the back hoe became stuck at the intersection of Verhoeff and Canterbury, the same place where two heavy-duty snow plows (and countless passenger vehicles) have become stuck, and abandoned their loads - dumping it back on the street. It was the noise the back-hoe was making trying to free himself from the intersection that woke me.

I have already resolved to call out sick today, as despite having an AWD vehicle, (2010 Nissan Rouge) I cannot get off my street. I'm no novice either, having driven 44 years. But the conditions on my street are impossible.

I did give it a try (when my son was present) and could not get past that section of road where the moutain of snow was left by the first plow that became stuck and the slick intersection. Fortunately my son and a few neighbors were able to return my vechile to the driveway. I am 62 years old, and could never have freed the car myself.

My son was able to ferry a few neighbors (has a 4 x 4 vehicle) to get supplies and to a treatment in Hackensack, but it was even difficult for his vehicle to manage.

When in his company, I made a point of surveying the conditions of neighborhoods in nearby Kearny and Lyndhurst, as well as many streets in N.A., nothing was as bad as our neighborhood.

As plows and back-hoes are not able to enter and move about, it's a given that a firetruck could not possibly reach about a dozen homes, therefore we are at risk.

I'd like to go to work on Wednesday if possible (I'd like to retire, but as long as I own a home in N.J. and pay such enormous property taxes, I cannot afford not to work and stay here). Currently we are down to nine DPW employees, so I know they are stretched to the max. But I am not asking for miracles, just a road that is marginally passable. Thanks for whatever help you can provide.

Kerry Ann Gennace, 12/28/10