Waterbury Calls on Teens to Help Dig Out Schools

As Waterbury continues to dig out from more than 2 feet of snow that fell during the blizzard, the mayor turned to the city’s teens to help shovel at the schools and 500 people showed up for the work.

“Mayor O'Leary has just announced that any youth ages 14-up that want to earn minimum wage to help shovel out the schools should show up at his office on Grand Street tomorrow at 12noon (on Tuesday) dressed warm with a shovel. See you then,” the Waterbury Police Activity League Web site says.

The mayor's office is paying minimum wage. Shovelers had to bring an ID. If they were under 18, they had to bring a parent.

Waterbury schools are out for the day and students will be shoveling until 5 p.m. Everyone will be back at 9 a.m. on Wednesday for a second day of clearning.

For more information, call 203-574-6712.

Dozens of streets have not seen a snowplow since the blizzard on Friday and Saturday and the mayor’s office has posted a street plowing progress report on the city’s Web site.

As of 7 p.m. on Monday, plows had touched most of districts 1, 2, 3 and 4, so Danbury has come to Waterbury’s aid.

On Monday, Mayor Mark Boughton sent a convoy of trucks to help clear the streets.

The move led to some kudos from Waterbury on Twitter.