By SHELBY ASHLINE
and ANDY CASTILLO
Recorder Staff
GREENFIELD — It began falling softly in the early afternoon, then more heavily as the sun went down, with large white flakes accumulating on the roadways and sidewalks.
During the first snowfall of the year on Thursday, 58-year-old Jo Sweeney of Greenfield walked down Main Street in a teal winter coat, her hood up and the black fur trim surrounding her face. The Greenfield Savings Bank sign indicated it was 35 degrees.
Having spent her entire life living in New England, Sweeney said the snowfall was nothing new to her and she’s prepared for winter, despite the snow’s unexpected early onset.
“It actually came earlier than a couple years ago,” she said. “It’s a strange mixture of fall and winter all at the same time. It’s lovely as always.”
Sitting in Greenfield Coffee, 23-year-old Isaak Hecht watched the snow out the window as he read a book and drank a cop of coffee. A California native, Hecht was visiting his cousin in Greenfield when the snow began.
“I was surprised when I woke up this morning,” he said. “It seems to be going strong, but its kind of nice because it’s dreamy and romantic. I’m pleased with it.”
Though Hecht and Sweeney enjoyed the beauty of the new winter wonderland, the snow caught other residents off guard.
“It’s a little bit of a surprise,” Paul Bocko, 46, of Bernardston, said. “I don’t have my hat in the car, nor my rain gear, so I’m not ready for it.”
Looking out the window over his laptop while in Greenfield Coffee, Bocko said he was thinking about the things he still needs to do before winter, like tune-up his snowblower.
As the evening wore on, the winter weather led to slippery roads and a series of accidents, taxing the resources of local emergency responders.
Around 4:30 p.m. a vehicle rolled over while driving north on Interstate 91, before exit 26 in Deerfield. Greenfield, Deerfield and Turners Falls fire departments were called, along with North Adams EMS, to help transport four people to the hospital, all with minor injuries.
Fifteen minutes later, a Honda SUV slid off Long Plain Road in Whately and crashed into a utility pole, knocking down a transformer.
At the scene, Fire Chief John Hannum said the one person driving the car wasn’t hurt; however, emergency responders, including the town’s Police Department as well firefighters, closed the road for a few hours to let Eversource crews work.
About the same time, and not far away on Routes 5 and 10 in Deerfield, a white Ford truck ran off the road and crashed into another utility pole. The driver wasn’t injured.
Other minor car accidents were reported in the region, including Gill and Conway.
The early snow also brought trees down on wires in Wendell, Greenfield, Shutesbury and Conway.
“It is New England, so I think we’ve got to remember that,” Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh said. “It always seems the first snow of the year, everybody needs to adjust. I hope we’ll get through the first few flakes without too many accidents.”
Haigh reminds residents to be cautious when driving and remember that the road is slippery.
“You almost have to get used to driving all over again every year,” he said.
Though some rain showers are predicted, the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday is cloudy, with no more anticipated snow.