After a warm start to winter, Mother Nature threw a curveball to residents up and down the East Coast over the weekend, dumping feet of snow in some areas, and upwards of six inches on the Middle Peninsula.

The snowstorm not only wreaked havoc for motorists trying to get out and about, but also shut down public school systems in both counties Friday and Monday, and closed Gloucester and Mathews county offices early Friday and all day Monday. Gloucester schools remained closed Tuesday because of icy road conditions.

Gloucester schools reopened on Wednesday. Today, which was originally scheduled to be a teacher work day, was changed to a normal school day to make up for some of the lost time. Friday will remain a teacher work day.

Donk’s Theater at Hudgins, an iconic landmark in Mathews, fell victim to the storm Friday night around 11 p.m., as its roof collapsed in the wake of snow, sleet, rain and wind. (See separate story.)

The storm resulted in several deaths statewide, incl...