Snow Place Like Home

When they booked a 10-day trip to Florida for the Sunshine Showcase field hockey tournament, the Nasr family had no idea what would await them upon their return home.

Their Berrywood community, along with the rest of Severna Park and Arnold, received more than six inches of snow. Because they had parked their SUV in an uncovered, offsite lot at BWI Airport before they got word of the storm, their vehicle was stuck. Their return flights were canceled and rebooked.

During that stressful period, their friends offered helping hands.

“Beth Nolan and her daughter (and teammate of our oldest), Kate, ended up on our flight home,” Mustafa Nasr shared in an email. “Beth organized with her husband, Ryan, to bring everything needed to dig our car out of the airport parking lot: shovels, scrapers, snow gear, coats, gloves, hats, handwarmers, and found a way to get all five of our suitcases and the kids home so they wouldn’t have to wait/watch in the 20-degree cold!”

This is just one of many stories of kindness that readers sent to the Severna Park Voice following the snowfall. Others noted that while age or medical issues limited them, they had no shortage of support.

Not far from the Nasr home in Berrywood, a county plow got stuck as the vehicle turned a corner. Neighbors did not waste any time. Several of them grabbed shovels and started digging around the plow. Ten minutes later, the plow was free.

Lenny Anderson, owner of Anderson Marine Construction, plowed multiple driveways in the Lower Magothy Beach neighborhood. His work did not go unappreciated. A 14-year-old resident named Charlotte showed her thanks by sharing her homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Vineyard Child Care Center Director Chris Davis was at home recovering from cancer surgery and caring for her elderly father. Two friends showed up Saturday night before the storm, bearing meals for the days ahead.

“Huge shout out to the Lawsons (I haven't seen them in two years) and to Laura, who has been on this cancer journey herself and now pays back immensely,” Davis said.

Seniors Fred and Dee Wieninger were blessed to have the help of their “dear friend,” Jose DeLeon of Severna Forest, who cleared their driveway and sidewalk with a snowblower. Neighborhood kids Addie, Grady, Tate and Leah also helped by clearing off vehicles.

Randy Dean, better known as Captain Randy, is always helping, and this winter event was no exception. “This snow, he shoveled the sidewalks around the court and he’s been out every day helping all of the seniors on the street,” Danielle Brown said.

Another pair of seniors expressed gratitude as well. As Bonnie Nugent explained, she and her husband are in their 70s and both have significant health problems. So, they were grateful to their neighbors in Manhattan Beach. One ensured the couple’s generator was ready to run if needed. Others used snowblowers and shovels to clear their driveway and sidewalk. Another neighbor brought soup.

“Everyone made sure we knew that we could call on them for any assistance we needed,” Nugent said. “And that offer was made not just during the storm but many times over the last year as my husband and I navigated our ongoing health problems. We can’t stress enough how blessed we are with such kind and considerate neighbors.”

Even Voice Assistant Editor Meredith Winter benefited from the kindness of neighbors. After riding out the storm in a less affected area, she and her husband came home Tuesday and began to chip away at the ice and snow. Within minutes two neighbors came out with shovels to assist, and a third neighbor came to jump-start the car they had left behind.

The greater Severna Park community is made special by many things, most of all the wonderful people who live and work here!