On a February morning in Riverdale, woodsmoke goes up straight and slow over the rooftops and the whole street smells like a banked fire. Aiello Chimney Sweep & Repair is out ahead of the day, plowing driveways down to pavement and cutting a walkway from the door to the curb before anyone has to guess where the path used to be. Gloucester storms arrive off the water heavy and wet, then stiffen overnight into something a shovel argues with, so steps and landings get sand and salt while they can still be worked. The reward is small and complete: a dark strip of driveway, a car that backs out without a fight, a morning that starts on time. One storm or a whole winter — the route is the same either way.