Another snowfall on March 13 - one week from the first day of spring - came just days after power returned following a March 7 storm that pummeled the state. Unlike last week's havoc, however, was a cotton-like snow Tuesday that clung to trees until mid-afternoon.

Snowblowers soon hummed and shovels scraped as residents pushed the much lighter snow aside, freeing cars and clearing driveways. Town plows promptly cleared Newtown's streets, and an adventurous few groups of high school students and parents with small children packed up their snowboards and sleds, to leave tracks across Treadwell park.

High on a hill past the baseball diamond were friends Matthew Weisgerber, Kyle Trahan, Jenna Reilly, and Aidan Stout.

With the slope to themselves around noon, the four slid again and again, aiming for a mound built of easily packed snow. Aiden soon burst through the jump, laughing and crawling back to repack it for another run. Huddling above, the group soon rushed downhill in a small caravan, linked together for one pass downhill.

With temperatures stubbornly a few degrees shy of freezing and the first day of spring looming, winter's icy hold lingers.

With temperatures stubbornly a few degrees shy of freezing and the first day of spring looming, winter's icy hold lingers.