Snow, snow, snow! My goodness, we certainly got our share of the white stuff this weekend. Always seems funny to me how every year when we get that first “big” snow storm how it always seems like such an amount, but when you look back on it, it was the same last year. I love the snow (yea, I know you think I'm crazy), but I do not have to commute very far to get to work. I am sure if I did, I would feel differently about it. It is that darn cold that really bothers me; it makes my old bones ache.

One thing I have found out is that living in a small town can be such a plus as well as sometimes being a pain. When you live in such a small community, not only does everyone seem to know your business, they are also the ones that come to your aid in a time of need.

That is why I love a big storm; I love to see neighbors helping one another out. We have several seniors in our community, and it is so gratifying to me to see folks checking up on them and helping them shovel out, get supplies at the store for them, etc. It's nice to know that it is not always about the almighty buck. One way you can help is to make sure your fire hydrants remain shoveled out and also your mailbox, if you have one. If you happen to have an elderly neighbor check on them from time to time, you would be surprised how appreciative they are, even just for the company.

Being a resident of a resort town that depends greatly on the summer business to get through the winter months does have some advantages as well. I find it funny that all winter we can't wait until spring and summer to arrive so we have the influx of all the summer folks and tourists only to find ourselves waiting for fall for a much slower, quieter time. This lasts about a month, then we are bored again.

Here we have a few businesses that try to remain open throughout the year, which makes it really hard sometimes to make ends meet and I am sure the folks here are grateful to these folks for their efforts. I would have to say that the main stay of our community is the Bayside Grocery that remains open all year from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., with longer hours during the summer months. I don't know where the community would be without it. The other year- round businesses are the Westend Express and the Little Sodus Inn, as well as Gillis Family restaurant. So as you can imagine, it is rather slow here through the winter months.

Our village is in the process of installing a public sewer system. A lot of controversy has surrounded this project for the last several months. Seems like there are as many folks against it as there are for it. It does not matter what side of the fence you choose to be on, it is a done deal and those against it will just have to adjust to it. The crews are busy installing dumping stations as well as the lines over to the sewer plant. It has made quite a disruption to our little village but with any kind of construction projects, we have to expect it. I myself will be so glad when they get the project at Voights Creek done, it is such a muddy mess. The village already has had curbs installed the length of Main Street and I understand sidewalks are to follow as soon as weather permits. There also is a new highway project in the works.

I have heard that the Renaissance Fair is in the process of being sold. So I guess we got a lot of new things to look forward to.

We really are fortunate to have such talented people residing here. There is a group of artists that has its own studio that opens through the summer and we also have several authors whose books you can pick up at several places locally. We are also very fortunate to have the Sterling Nature Center, as well as the Little Red School House and the Railway Museum run by the Sterling Historical Society. They put out one of the neatest calendars each year. I always look forward to getting one. The money they make goes into the society to use for the museum, etc. So much history in them. (Keep up the good work guys).

And when you visit our little village, your visit would not be complete without stopping by the Fly By Night Cookie Co. and trying some of Bonnie's goodies. Give this lady a lot of credit, she started this company all by herself several years ago and it has really grown. And wait until you see all her little miniatures that she made by herself that are strung throughout her shop. Awesome.

Nancy Webster lives and writes from the village of Fair Haven