By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Sept. 23 marks the first day of autumn, but some Niles residents are already predicting what they think this winter will bring.
This week, we gave locals the chance to be weathermen and women for a day and predict their outcomes for the 2007-08 winter season.
Most were in favor of another mild winter, like we've seen the past few years. However, many are predicting a long, hard season. Others suggested those who don't like winter should head south.
Yet a few said they think snow is wonderful and winter is their favorite season.
Brenda Beadenkopf of Niles said she would like to see more snow, as she enjoys cross country skiing.
"Last year, we didn't even get to go skiing until March. The weather was so mild until Christmas that there wasn't even any snow on the ground. I think this year we may see some more extremes though," she said.
Kailey Dexter of St. Joseph was in Niles for the day babysitting her two nieces. She said she likes winter, up until February when the cold gets "boring."
"I like to have snow around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, but after that I don't care for it much anymore. Everything is so pretty before the New Year, then in the months after it gets dull," she said.
Living in St. Joseph, she said they see a lot of lake effect, which makes things difficult, especially on morning drives.
"I have to leave for work at 5 a.m. and at that time the plow trucks aren't even out yet and if they are they have only hit the roads maybe a few times, so it's a mess. My favorite season is summer though, but it comes and goes so fast."
Joe and Naomi Szot head down south in January to stay at their winter home in Florida. Joe said every seven years we see a cycle change and he thinks maybe this year could be one.
"That's what they taught me at the road commission and I believe it. I've been retired 17 years and we do go down south, but don't leave until after the New Year so I still have my snow shovel and snow blower because snow usually hits before we leave," he said.
Naomi believes we are in for a hard winter.
"I can tell by my bones," she said.
Mike Bishop, whose family owns Bishop Sewing Systems, said he hopes we have another mild winter like last year.
"I like the snow, but it's nice if it doesn't stick around a long time. But it would be cool to see a big snowfall. We've had some, but a huge one would be cool."
Bishop would like to see a harsh winter as this may be his last one for a while as he is thinking about moving down south, possibly to Arkansas.
Tanya Vance of Niles is also hoping for another mild winter because, well, she just doesn't like to shovel snow.
"I like liquid snow – rain. And I'm not a big fan of the cold. The older you get the harder it gets to deal with it," she said.