A winter wonderland first

Dec. 19—The high temperature Tuesday in Trujillo, Peru, only about 8 degrees south of the equator, was 81 degrees.

But Manuel Mendez and his son Rodrigo, who are from Trujillo and live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were in Sharpsville — where Manuel's fiancée, Melodie Harnett, is from — Monday when snow fell in Mercer County. It was the first time the Mendez father and son had ever seen the stuff.

So they took advantage of the opportunity Tuesday and hit the kite hill at Buhl Park for a novel thrill — sled riding.

Harnett said Manuel and Rodrigo thought the snowfall was beautiful and could not stop taking photos and videos when it started snowing on Monday.