Snow forecast gets cool reception

Onslow County collectively shrugged Friday.

Reaction to snow in the forecast ranged from moderately concerned to indifferent.

Many shoppers said they were out because they were off or because it was payday — but not to stock up in advance of the forecasted snow.

“I really hadn’t thought about the snow at all,” said Cristian Rodriguez, who is stationed in South Carolina but was in Jacksonville for training.

He was at the Jacksonville Mall doing his Valentine’s Day shopping before his wife arrived later in the day Friday.

Though he admits he’s concerned about the way other people drive, the weather won’t be a travel deterrent.

“I’ll be on the road (Saturday) no matter what,” he said, noting he was stationed here for two years prior to South Carolina. “People around here don’t know how to drive (in the snow) though, that’s the thing — but I’m from New Jersey so I’m used to it and I’m not really worried about it.”

The main reason Bill Lewis was shopping Friday at Food Lion was because he making dinner for friends that night, but he admitted he may have picked up a few extra supplies because of the weather.

“I hope (the snow) doesn’t come, but part of the (shopping) plan was about the weather,” said Lewis, who has lived in the area his entire life. “I heard on the news this morning that they expect to have snow in 50 states before the weekend is out.

“We’ve had a harsh winter and I am ready for hot weather — I won’t even complain about the heat.”

Dorothy Clouser, of Jacksonville, said she was shopping at Piggly Wiggly for a few necessities in advance of a forecast that called for up to six inches.

“I’m not worried about it … I’m just trying to get in a few things,” she said. “My son still gets so excited when he hears it’s going to snow, I can’t believe it, even though he’s grown.”

Home Depot did have a run on pool salt Friday, said Will Whodbee, a department manager.

“It’s really all we have been selling for the snow, and we sold a pile of it this morning,” he said.

Home Depot Assistant Manager Sammy Shepard said most customers purchasing salt were concerned about icy sidewalks and steps.

“People really need to watch for black ice — we sell the pool salt and there is Road Ice Melt, but I even tell people table salt and sand works well too,” he said. “A broom will probably dust off what we may get or a flat top shovel.”

David Burgette of Warsaw purchased 125, 40 lb. bags of salt in advance of the snow for the 40-plus shopping centers between Jacksonville and Wilmington his dad’s company, Southeastern Power Sweeping, services.

“We’ll be throwing it out for safety precautions,” he said.

Burgette believes the area will see the snow as predicted: “I think closer to the coast will get it.”

Contact Suzanne Ulbrich at 910-219-8454 or sulbrich@freedomenc.com.

I scream for … snow cream?

Dorothy Clouser grew up in Jacksonville, so she didn’t have as much opportunity to eat snow cream as those who live up north. But she does have fond memories of the times she got to enjoy the creamy winter treat.

“I was born here, my mother used to make it for me … and it was really good,” she said.

Here’s a snow cream recipe, maybe just like the one Clouser’s mom used to make:

Ingredients

1 gallon of fresh snow (make sure you get clean snow — collect snow off the very top of the pile while it's still coming down, so you get only fresh snow)

1 cup of milk or cream

½-cup sugar (or to taste)

1 or 2 tablespoons of vanilla

Add the sugar and vanilla a little bit at a time mixing lightly with a large spoon — fold don’t beat. Add the milk or cream slowly until the snow cream tastes like and appears close to the consistency of ice cream. Adding the milk too quickly will liquify the snow — putting it together outside will help. Serve immediately.