By Shauna Scott Rhone, Mike Pulfer, Polly Campbell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

If you've been in Cincinnati long, you know that a snowfall that becomes more than a mildly flaky menace doesn't happen much.

But we have a good one on the ground today (3 to 5 inches), and it should stick around at least all day. The forecast calls for sunshine with a high near freezing. This first measurable snowfall of the season gives us reason to offer some ideas for enjoying it.

The snow creates work if you need to shovel it, so we've included some safety tips. But if you want to make the most of a little wintry weather, or even if you want to sit inside with a cup of hot chocolate in front of a warm fire, today's a great day.

Try a winter sport

If iceboating and snowmobiling sound a little too serious or too far away, consider these local spots for sledding, skating and skiing.

SLEDDING SAFELY

• Choose only clear, open hills. • Choose hills based on your child's age and maturity. • Make room and time for other sledders on the hill to avoid collisions. • Supervise children or make sure they have an adult with them. • Discourage children from jumping off a moving sled, piling on too many people or goofing off. • Choose age-appropriate sleds. Makeshift sleds like cardboard boxes, trashcan lids and shovels are impossible to control and steer and can land you in the emergency room.

Sledding

Mount Storm Park, Clifton; Rapid Run Park, West Price Hill; Stanbery Park, Mount Washington; Ault Park, Mount Lookout; Eden Park, Mount Adams; Mount Airy Forest, Mount Airy; French Park, Amberley Village; Martin Luther King Park, Avondale; Roselawn Park, Roselawn; Alms Park, Columbia-Tusculum; Devou Park near the ampitheater, and Glenn O. Swing School, 19th and Jefferson, Covington; Harbor Overlook at Miami Whitewater Forest, Crosby, Whitewater and Harrison Townships; Cardinal Crest in Sharon Woods, Sharonville; the Harper Meadows Picnic Area in Winton Woods, Greenhills; Ebshoff Woods and Nature Preserve, Delhi Township; William Harbin Park, Fairfield; and Big Bone Lick State Park, Boone County.

Skating

Eden and Rapid Run parks, Fountain Square rink ($2), downtown; Miami Whitewater Forest; Mitchell Memorial Forest, Miami Township; Sharon Woods; Triple Creek, Colerain Township; Winton Woods; and Woodland Mound, Anderson Township.

Ice must be 4 inches thick in Hamilton County parks; 3 inches in Cincinnati.

Skiing

Ault Park, French Park, Mount Airy Park; all areas in all Hamilton County parks, except for golf courses; Perfect North Slopes, Lawrenceburg.

For more information, call Cincinnati Parks at 352-4080 or go to www.cinci-parks.org; Hamilton County Parks at 521-3980 or www.hamiltoncountyparks.org; Perfect North Slopes at (812) 537-3754 or www.perfectnorth.com. Fairfield parks: 867-5348. Fountain Square rink: 684-4945.

Shoveling is work - so take it slow

Always keep your back straight, your knees bent, and throw the snow forward. Avoid throwing snow over your shoulder. Twisting while throwing snow behind you can cause back strain. In fact, experts recommend that you push the shovel to move the snow and avoid lifting whenever possible.

SNOW ON THE NET

What the heck was that stuff that fell from the sky? How did it get there and why is it white? Here are some Web sites where you can learn more about snow: • The Snow and Ice Data Center • The Teel Family Web Site (from Alaska) • Scholastic Web site on winter storms

Also:

• Before shoveling, warm up with a few stretching exercises.

• Don't smoke or eat a large meal before shoveling.

• Dress warmly in layers with a hat. Cover your neck.

• Tackle heavy snow in two stages. Begin by skimming snow from the top, then remove the bottom layer. Avoid overloading the shovel.

• Don't try to shovel too much too quickly. Allow yourself enough time to do the work so you don't feel rushed. Follow a slow and steady pace. Take frequent breaks to stand up and stretch.

• Drink water during breaks. Breathing cold air dehydrates the body.

www.applesforhealth.com

Bundle up for safety

Dress properly to avoid frostbite and overexposure. Wear hats, gloves or mittens, scarves, boots, at least two pairs of socks and several layers of loose-fitting clothing. Wool and synthetic fibers are better than cotton next to the skin, because they retain less moisture.

Snow reflects more than 80 percent of the sun's damaging ultraviolet radiation. If you're going to be out long, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Reapply it every two hours for maximum benefit.

Signs of frostbite, which can occur after long exposure to wet and cold: Mild frostbite (frostnip) affects the outer skin layers and appears as a blanching or whitening of the skin. Usually, these symptoms disappear as warming occurs, but the skin may appear red for several hours after. During the warming period, watch for these signs: swelling, itching, burning and deep pain.

In severe cases, frostbitten skin looks discolored with a white, grayish-yellow or grayish-blue color. The skin will be numb to the touch and blisters may be present. The tissue will feel frozen or "wooden." This indicates a serious condition. In order to decrease the chance of permanently damaging the skin, call your physician or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Coffee-shop cocoa can be a fun indulgence

The availability of high-quality hot chocolate in this area has risen in exact correlation to the availability of high-quality coffee. A rich hot cup of full-fat, real chocolate, whipped-cream-on top cocoa is as close as your neighborhood coffee shop.

At home, you may have become used to opening up a packet and adding hot water. But real cocoa is a breeze, and once you've gotten used to the real coffee shop thing, you won't be satisfied with Swiss Miss, or even Quik in hot milk.

Here's a simple recipe from The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook:

Hot Chocolate

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
51/4 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In heavy 3-quart saucepan, stir cocoa, sugar, and water until smooth. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat.

2. Stir in milk; heat until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

3. Put into cups or mugs and top each serving with marshmallow or dollop of whipped cream. Makes 6 cups or 6 servings.

Any flavor that goes with chocolate can be added to this basic recipe. I like a cup of cocoa with a shot of Kahlua or Grand Marnier at bedtime. Peppermint extract, shots of Torani syrup, or a sprinkle of cinnamon can customize your cup.

To get that coffee shop foam and body, there's a gadget for sale everywhere this year: an immersion blender made to work in a mug: a little battery-operated stick that froths things up. Sur La Table has one called a Turbo Frother for $14.95.

Hot tips for the fireplace

To get those chestnuts roasting, remember these fireplace safety tips:

Have your chimney and vents inspected annually. Creosote buildup, birds' nests and other hindrances can cause fires to occur.

Clear the area around the hearth. Debris too close to the fireplace or to a wood stove could cause a fire. Keep Christmas stockings, holiday decorations and furniture at a safe distance.

Always use a metal, mesh screen in front of your fireplace. Leave glass doors of a fireplace open while burning a fire, unless fireplace manufacturers' instructions indicate otherwise.

Burn only one manufactured firelog at a time. Don't overload a fireplace or wood stove with too much firewood. Two or three pieces of firewood should be sufficient with a commercial firestarter. Place logs at the rear of the fireplace, on an adequate supporting grate.

Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and place smoke detectors throughout the house. Install a carbon monoxide detector and test the detectors and batteries regularly. Teach all family members to operate the fire extinguisher.

Be sure the fire is extinguished before you go to bed. Never leave children or pets unsupervised while the fireplace is in use.

More information at www.duraflame.com