Boston Blotter: Start Shoveling!

After the groper and the shouter from yesterday, it seems that everything settled down a little bit last night.

The big news is the potentially large blotter that might result if people don't start shoveling their sidewalks. According to Fox 25, you'll get fined if you don't shovel, and 4,000 citations have been given since Wednesday. If you are a business or homeowner reading this, and you haven't been shoveling - then start! Not only is it a nice thing to do for your neighbors, but also it might save you from a lawsuit if someone slips on your ice.

Mayor Menino even sent a message from Florida (what's he doin' in Florida during a big storm?) asking people to shovel for the elderly and pitch in. That's a fine message and definitely something people should be doing. Bostonist has seen heroic acts of kindness as Samaritans help shovel and help drivers escape ice traps as they try to move their cars. Downtown was also surprisingly clear yesterday morning.

But the city itself was, according to the Herald, not all that quick to do some shoveling of its own. The Herald noted many instances of city property that hadn't been properly shoveled, including the sidewalk in front of the Dudley Street branch of the public library and the sidewalk in front of the Roxbury police precinct.

The weather is much warmer today, so the snow will melt on its own, but snow and ice in Boston are sure things, so arm thyself with a shovel.

Image of colorful shovels that may add a little more spice to shoveling drudgery from Flickr user Whalt.