Where's Winter? Businesses and Snow Fans Feel Sting of Pseudo-Spring

Will sloppy wet snowmen and piles of cold icy snow ever crowd the landscape in our township this winter? Closing in on mid-January without a dumping of the four-letter word has kept some businesses guessing and fans of cold weather fun in limbo.

The usually closes from November to March but this year they had some members out playing a few rounds in late November.

“We really don’t have golfers beyond that because we are putting our chemicals on the greens to keep them nice for the spring,” said Bello Woods co-owner Janet Schrade. “Actually, our big concern now is that we may have to change our season this year. Last year it was terrible, we lost April and May.”

Having league play delayed by a month or two when winter hangs on into spring can really hit a business hard. Schrade wonders if they should perhaps prepare to host an April to December golf season this year.

has been in business in the township since 1985 and has contracts for commercial, residential and condominium complexes across the area. Owner Joe Vanassche said seasonal contracts generally run from Nov. 1-April 15 and he also has some clients whose contracts are per occurrence.

“Most people and establishments make their decision for the winter season in November or December so we have all that in place,” Vanassche said. “And once it snows, the majority of my calls will be from residential people who need service and if I can I will help them out.”

Noting that it only takes a day for the weather to change quite drastically, Vanassche is sure there’s a lot of winter left and said when the time comes to battle the snow, he’ll be ready.

“The way I run my business is that it may not be snowing right now but I’m ready with the trucks, plows and salt set to go,” he said. “And I’m still in constant communication with my customers, the relationship doesn’t stop because it doesn’t snow.”

A full service landscape service, Vashco Lawn Care and Snow Removal, keeps busy year round and although this winter has proven quiet, Vanassche has a dozen employees eager to start clearing safe paths for his clients.

“It does affect my employees because they make a better pay rate when they are out in that weather removing snow, so they are waiting for it,” Vanassche said.

Jessica Minicuci, 21, is on the fence about the snow. Although she wants to try snowboarding and loves to ice skate, albeit indoors at , the cold is another story.

“I can’t say that I’ve missed the winter so far, ” Minicuci said, adding she knows her younger siblings are eager to bundle up and go outside. “They want it to snow so they can have a snow day and they do like to be outside playing in it with their friends.”

However, the longer the white stuff stays away, the happier Macomb resident, Dominic Troi IV, is.

“It could never snow again and I’d be fine,” laughed Troi, 21.

Although the National Weather Service predicts a "chance of snow showers" later in the week, little if any snow is expected to accumulate.

Where Were We One Year Ago?

• According to the National Weather Service, the snowiest day of January 2011 came on Jan. 11, with 4.7 inches of snow in Macomb County. No other day during the month recorded more than 2 inches of snow. However, for the month, 17.9 inches of snow were recorded.
• The warmest day in January 2011 was 53 degrees on Jan. 1. The coldest was 2 degrees on Jan. 24.
• Macomb Patch published more than 25 articles detailing school closings, weather advisories and township emergencies all due to snow and freezing temperatures.
• The term "snowpocalypse" became a regular feature of news coverage during the time period.