While Winter Storm Fern certainly inconvenienced a lot of people, it pleased staff members of the Barnegat Township Recreation Department. At least now they will have a good number of participants for its annual snowman building contest.

“The last few winters we didn’t have much of a contest because there was little snow,” said Stacey Fahringer, assistant recreation director. “We’ve been doing this every year for a long time, but we’re at the mercy of the elements.”