It's been a winter of near-record snowfall totals combined with lower than average temperatures.

Rest assured, this winter has taken its toll on us all, but most especially, local businesses who have felt its impact.The weather was the topic of conversation at a recent Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.Peter Kern, chamber president, polled various business owners in attendance to see exactly how their businesses have been affected by the various snowstorms this winter.Perhaps Richard Nothstein, part-owner, Country Harvest Family Market, summed it up best."There's not a real advantage (to a storm)," Nothstein said. "You lose later on."The dialogue continued as Carl Kern, Blue Ridge Communications TV-13's main weather anchor and a senior videographer, gave a presentation.A graduate of Elizabethtown College, Kern earned his BA degree in communications. He interned at TV-13 in 1986, started at the station as a videographer in January of 1996 and began as a weatherman in April of 1997.Kern told chamber members that they can be their own weather authority because they're familiar with the area in which they live."The weather is very, very repetitive," Kern said. "The extremes are becoming more extreme."Kern said that in his role as weatherman, he attempts to relate the weather to what people are experiencing.A brief question and answer session followed.Kern then thanked those for attending the function.