Philly brushing off latest storm

The winter weather has thrown a wrench in some people’s plans today. Others, are preparing to hunker down for a weekend of staying warm inside.  

In North Philadelphia, wind whipped down the street earlier today but that wasn’t enough to stop Deacon Brian Jarmon. Despite the deep chill in the air, Deacon Jarmon kept shoveling the sidewalk in front of the National Temple Baptist Church. “It’s not so bad today,” he said, “there’s been worse days.” Deacon Jarmon said he doesn’t usually pay someone else to clear the sidewalk in front of his Church — he does the work. “It’s my Church and the Deacon’s supposed to take care of the Church inside and out and I don’t want nobody to walk past and slip and fall.” Down the street, Donald Troutman was bundled up from head to toe and moving fast. He used a more modern tool to move the snow: he was clearing the sidewalk from atop a riding snowplow with fat tires that resembled an ATV with a plor on the front. So is it as fun as it looks? From beneath the warmth of a big hood, Troutman conceded, “well sometimes.” At Fresh Grocer up Broad Street, Tasha Burston said she walked 10 blocks to the store to buy chicken, eggs and breakfast food. “I had to get some basic necessities for the house. I didn’t have time yesterday. So I got up 7 o’clock this morning and walked all the way here and it was very difficult getting here but I made it.”  With groceries in hand, Burston, a Psychology student, said she planned to stay inside studying, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the weekend.  The National Weather Service is warning of gusts up to 35 miles per hour sending the wind chill factor into negative territory.