Snow kidding; I am not a litterbug

As a 32-year resident of Lisle, I would like to share what happened while I was recently clearing my driveway.

I live on Maple Avenue and have a double-wide driveway that collects plenty of snow. Big plows come down the street very fast and plow the snow onto our driveways - almost up to the sidewalk. This plowed snow is usually very wet and very heavy.

As is the case after a few heavy snowfalls, piles of already-shoveled snow on the side of driveway at the street were shoulder high. I shoveled as much of the fresh snow as I could onto the towering pile, and pushed the last foot of accumulated slush back out onto the street, hoping that when the plow came by it would push it away. Cars didn't seem to be bothered because they were still flying by, seemingly faster than the posted speed limit.

But a cop in an unmarked car came by, rolled down his window and said, "Stop throwing the snow into the street. We have calls from people complaining, and you have to stop." He suggested I "move it over to the side of the driveway." He said I was actually "littering" by pushing the snow onto the street, and the plows would have to come back and clean it again.

I was not littering. I was just returning something that I didn't want in the first place. Funny how all those people driving down Maple never call and say how nice your yard looks during the other seasons. I spend a lot of time and expense on my yard to create a positive reflection on the Arboretum Village. All that work to keep it looking nice includes frequently picking up other people's "litter." Hopefully, that unmarked car will come back in the spring and let me know that he got a compliment on how nice the yard looks.

Marilyn Wodzinski

Lisle