By Beth David, Editor
Getting 30+ inches of snow in these parts is more than unusual, it’s practically unheard of. The last time we came close was in 1978, and that was only 24 inches. The blizzard of 2026 hit hard on Monday, 2/23, dumping all that snow in one day, with hours of zero visibility and damaging winds. Thousands were without power, some for days.
Many stories of neighbors helping neighbors popped up on social media, in meetings, that have resumed, and in the bars.
The Fairhaven shelter actually had people use it this time, more than 20. Ricky Goytizolo (see letter on page 8) wrote that he had to take advantage of the shelter, and was delighted at how welcoming everyone was.
“My overnight stay was met with kindness, warmth and comfort food served with a smile,” wrote Mr. Goytizolo. “I witnessed firsthand the power of our Fairhaven community to come together to ensure the safety of everyone. I am glad I did and I am grateful.”
A woman whose mother died at the height of the storm posted on Facebook that the Fairhaven first responders and Fairhaven Funeral Home went above and beyond to reach her home. The paramedics had to walk down the unplowed street; the police drove the hospice nurse there; public works made it a priority to plow a one car path.
“Through the tragedy we have endured we can still see the hard working people of this town and we want to thank you all,” wrote Laurie LeBlanc. “Give the town employees some grace and thank them for all they do.”
Linda Smith called the Neighb News to give a shout-out to her neighbors who got out into the street with their snowblowers and shovels.
“I’ve never seen anything like what’s happening out here,” said Ms. Smith on Wednesday. “Every person on this street is clearing snow.”
She expressed dismay at the town plowing the streets around them, but not hers.
“We have some wonderful people in this town,” she said, adding she was disappointed in the town, though. “I may sound like a lunatic, but I’m impressed. These people are amazing.”
Over the weekend, a group of Fairhaven residents organized “Snow Helpers,” and shoveled out scores of school and SRTA bus stops and so students did not have to wait in the street.
In Acushnet, Superintendent of Schools, Paula Bailey, thanked the staff and town officials for their “coordination and partnership throughout the storm response.”
“While many were watching the snow fall, our amazing maintenance and custodial team was already hard at work — plowing, shoveling, salting, clearing entrances, and ensuring our buildings were warm and ready to welcome students and staff back,” she wrote on Facebook, adding a special thank-you to PJ Keating for “stepping in with the heavy equipment.”
“Their support as a valued community partner was instrumental in helping us manage the sheer volume of snow,” wrote Dr. Bailey. “This week was a powerful reminder that it takes a team to educate a child — and a community to keep our schools running.”
And of course, the complaints about trash pickup, the streets that never got plowed, and and…whatever.
The Neighb News had a blast running around taking pictures. And it was a delight to meet the two young boys out making a few extra bucks. Just like the old days, huh? (See photo on cover.)
They said they were doing “very well.” They mostly let the homeowners decide the rate they would pay.
“And they’ve been very generous,” said Jonathan.
We kind of got bombarded with content, so we are only able to include a few pictures here. Visit our website, www.neighbnews.com, and see a whole bunch of extra pictures with this story.
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- L-R: Best friends, Hudson and Jonathan walk around the center of Fairhaven, shovels in hand, looking for work on 2/26/26 three days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- The smoking area at the Fairhaven Housing Authority’s McGann Terrace is all shoveled out and ready for customers on 2/26/26 three days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader dumps a load of snow into a Town of Fairhaven dump truck at the corner of Laurel and South Streets on 2/28/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- Shanel gives a wave to the local free sheet while shoveling snow at the Fairhaven Senior Center/Recreation Center building on 2/26/26 three days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader dumps a load of snow into a Town of Fairhaven dump truck at the corner of Laurel and South Streets on 2/28/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A dump truck drops its load, while front loader adds snow to the massive pile already accumulated at Forth Phoenix on 2/28/28 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- One dump truck leaves while another drops is load, and a front loader adds snow to the massive pile already accumulated at Forth Phoenix on 2/28/28 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- The roads are clear for dog walking and baby strolling as snow begins to fall again on Green Street on 3/1/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- The roads are clear for dog walking as snow begins to fall again on Green Street on 3/1/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader dumps a load of snow into a dump truck at the corner of Adams and Center Streets on 3/1/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- Two dump trucks simultaneously drop their loads of snow at Fort Phoenix on 2/28/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- The unplowed bike path is clearly used by walkers on 2/28/28 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader drops a load of snow into a dump truck on Fort Street with Town Hall in the background as snow began to fall again on 3/1/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader adds snow to the massive pile already accumulated at Forth Phoenix on 2/28/28 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Jeff leBlanc, Tyler Strong, Ryan Jordan, contracted through DW White, pose for the local free sheet on 3/1/26 before hopping back into their trucks to clear out Adams Street after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader dumps a load of snow into a dump truck at the corner of Adams and Center Streets on 3/1/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A front loader dumps a load of snow into a dump truck at the corner of Adams and Center Streets on 3/1/26 five days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- Cleanup operations were tough on 2/25/26. Here a gentlemen battles drifts of snow along the rear side of the Unitarian Church sidewalk along Walnut Street after the Blizzard of 2026 dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Bruce David.
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- As the Town of Fairhaven continued clean up operations on Wednesday 2/25/26 Town Hall stood proudly surrounded by a blanket of snow from The Blizzard of 2026. Photo courtesy of Bruce David.
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- Travel conditions are challenging on 2/25/26 as these folks found out on Middle Street between Center and Union Streets, after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo by Bruce David.
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- Center Street between Main and William Streets on 2/25/26 is filled with snow even though mounds of snow appear to indicate it had been plowed at least once after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo by Bruce David.
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- The First Congregational Church on Center Street shows a bit of the aftermath of the Blizzard on 2/25/25. This storm certainly packed a punch as the entire area continues cleanup operations after the storm dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Bruce David.
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- Jessica Lawrence Alexandrite and her Golden Retriever “Bodhi” make their way down Center Street toward Town Hall on 2/25/26, after the Blizzard of 2026 unleashed its fury on Fairhaven dumping more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Bruce David.
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- With snow lightly falling on Wednesday morning 2/25/26, Avery Vasconcelos attempts to clear the drifts of snow out of the Middle Street side of The Northeast Maritime Institute’s parking lot on Center Street after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo by Bruce David.
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- Diane Painter demonstrates how to use the snow bench the Snow Helpers made out of snow at a bus stop at Smith Street and Sconticut Neck Road in Fairhaven on 2/28/26, a few days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Alliea E. Groupp.
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- Kelly Ochoa clears a sidewalk at a student bus stop on Jameson Street on 3/1/26 after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Diana Painter
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- L-R: Kelly Ochoa and Diane Painter are all smiles as they clear a sidewalk at a student bus stop on Jameson Street on 3/1/26 after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Diana Painter
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- L-R: Snow Helpers, Carolyn Wingate, Weslee Tyler, Kari Tyler, Jess Fidalgo pause for a photo while digging out a bus stop on Hathaway St. on 3/1/26 after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Alliea E. Groupp.
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- Shanel gives a wave to the local free sheet while shoveling snow at the Fairhaven Senior Center/Recreation Center building on 2/26/26 three days after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- A pole with a transformer on it sits in the road between Fort and Green Streets at Fort Phoenix on 2/25/26 after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Pasa Miller.
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- A pole is snapped, and an electrical wire unsecured at Fort Phoenix after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Pasa Miller.
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- A pole is snapped, and an electrical wire unsecured at Fort Phoenix after a blizzard dumped more than 30 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Pasa Miller.
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Click here to download the 3/5/26 issue: 03-05-26 Blizzard_Kids
Click here to download the Timoth-Hiller Summary: Timothy-HillerSummary
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