SOME SEE `GREEN' IN SNOW; SHOVELLING CAN PAY BIG BUCKS

When Scott Bernachi woke up at 5:30 Thursday morning, the winter wonderland he saw was not white: It was green.

He was one of several people who saw the 6 inches of snow that came overnight Wednesday as an opportunity, although some others saw service opportunities rather than the money-making kind.

Bernachi said he knew the heavy accumulation meant there would be people willing to pay to get their sidewalks and driveways shovelled. He woke up 10-year old Santon Rollins and told the Alma Schrader Elementary student he would give him half of all earnings for his help.

The fourth-grader agreed, and two hours later the two left home by taxi with gleams in their eyes and snow shovels in their hands.

"Whenever it gets pretty heavy, I usually do it," Bernachi said. He said he was able to make the extra money because he was off from work.

Bernachi and Rollins stopped at a nearby subdivision and went door-to-door asking homeowners if they wanted their driveways shovelled. They said they charged from $10 to $15 per home, depending upon the size of the driveway.

After canvassing one subdivision, they called a taxi and headed for another housing subdivision in the area. There, they said, they repeated what seemed to be a winning process, and more driveways were shovelled.

"We just did it like that all morning until we got tired," Bernachi said.

Finally, around noon, the two decided they had worked enough for the day. In all they had cleaned about 20 driveways in five hours, earning approximately $200 for their labors. Homeowners had happily paid them, they said, because they got a clean driveway without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

"I wanted to do it because of the money," said Rollins, who was home because Cape Girardeau schools were closed for the day. He said he plans to go to the mall with his earnings, but is unsure what he will buy.

Not all of the people cleaning sidewalks and driveways Thursday were doing it for the money or even for the family: Some were helping a neighbor.

"When I woke up and looked out my window, I saw my driveway and sidewalk were clean," said Lola Cameron. "I think my neighbor and his son had done theirs, and they just went on and did mine, too."

Cameron said she later offered to pay her neighbor, Delvin Meyer, for shovelling her snow, but he wouldn't accept it. He told her he didn't mind doing it because she reminded him of his grandmother.

"I was so happy I cried," she said.

With winter still young, people like Bernachi, Rollins and Meyers may be putting in a few more repeat performances. Whatever the motivation, anyone with a snow shovel should be in high demand.