Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The assignment: Cover the calm before the storm.

Dawn Destefano of Cranston, who was leaving Providence Place mall this morning, said for her "it's just another day."

She said that on the roads and elsewhere today "it seems pretty low key," quieter than usual.

State officials put the word out yesterday that a significant storm is on the way -- with first flakes falling in Rhode Island perhaps around noon and then snow in heaps expected to drop on us this afternoon.

But the music playing in the indoor walkway that goes from the Westin Hotel to the mall was the endlessly cheerful "Sleigh Ride," not the Doors' "Riders on the Storm." The stand hawking Super Bowl champions New England Patriots posters was ready as on any other day. The rotund Santa statuette in the window of the mall's Apple store held a gleaming iPhone, undimmed by weather forecasts.

City streets seemed less busy than on another day -- whether it's the result of businesses giving employees the day off, staggering their work schedules, the bite of a chilly day, or a bit of all those things.

In the city's financial district, Eileen O'Connor said she is "apprehensive."

"I'm taking off [work] early," she said, expressing hope that she can leave before heavy snowfall arrives.

Besides, the Bank of America employee said, she has a laptop computer and can work from home if needed.

Co-worker Cindy Tente said she thought it smart that Rhode Island districts cancelled school.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

 Tags  winter storm

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