The Gazette of Really Small News

Reflection on East Main, Sunday afternoon. . The Gazette of Really Small News  

  (Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News)

  Detritus from dead leaves and other natural stuff appear to be caught in the teeth of a dinosaur sculpture at the Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC). (Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News)

  "ADVENTURE TIME  C'mon grab your friends! We'll go to very distant lands!" promises this call to adventure chalked on a path in the Rochester Museum and Science Center's public park. (Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News)

  Gev Sweeney/The Gazette of Really Small News

  Smoke from wildfires in Canada give an eerie cast to sunset in Erie, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Gev Sweeney/The Gazette of Really Small News)

 A limited number of tickets are available for Erie PAL's first Police Athletic League Ball on Saturday, February 25. Tickets for the event, to be held at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center, 7794 Peach Street, are $100 per person. Featured guest speaker will be Rasheda Ali-Walsh, daughter of late boxing great Mohammed Ali, who will speak about her father's life and his PAL experience. If you want to go, send an email to eriepal@erie.pa.us no later than noon Thursday, February 16, with your name, address, phone number and number of tickets you would like to purchase. You will be notified of ticket availability no later than Monday, February 20. If tickets are available, you will receive a link to make payment. The Erie Police Department says that, with your support, Erie PAL can continue to build relationships between law enforcement and the city's young people. If you can't attend the ball but would like to support Erie PAL, click  here  to make a donation.

  . . .  and nobody hears it, does the tree really fall?" The riff on the old Philosophy 101 question in Erie Cemetery might have been inevitable, but was it inexcusable? (Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News)

 The Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center, 363 W 6th Street, will host a Community Day Sunday, February 12, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visitors can tour the exhibit buildings and learn more about Erie County's history. Among the sights: the Story of Us exhibit, Frank Lloyd Wright's San Francisco office, and the restored Wood-Morrison House. The Watson-Curtze Mansion is closed through February for maintenance. 

 Erie's Downtown Community Skating Rink will be closed this evening because of the wind chill advisory, Erie Downtown Partnership said on social media. The advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Cleveland is in effect until 9 a.m. tomorrow. Overnight wind chills are expected to go as low as 6 below zero, with air temperature reaching a low of 11. The brutal cold won't last long. Tomorrow's high could reach 31, according to NWS Cleveland. Erie Downtown Partnership said the skating rink will be open this weekend at regular hours: noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Northwest PA CareerLink will hold its 2023 Spring Job Fair Thursday, February 9, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Booker T. Washington Center, 1720 Holland Street.  Industries represented will include manufacturing, office, construction, health care, hospitality, customer service, and EMTA (Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority). The fair will offer resume assistance, on-site interviews, work-experience opportunities, and internship and apprentice opportunities. For more information, call (814) 455-9966/TTY (814) 871-4610/Toll-free 1-844-333-5248.

 The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a heavy freezing spray warning for the nearshore waters of Lake Erie, effective until 10 this evening. "Mariners should prepare for dangerous accumulation of ice on their vessel" and remain in port, the NWS said in an urgent marine message. Freezing spray could stop mechanical and electrical components from working, while rapid accumulation of ice could lead to what the NWS called "catastrophic loss of stability" on decks and superstructures. "Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions," NWS Cleveland said.

 Get ready for a dark and really chilly, slightly stormy night. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for this evening until 11 a.m. tomorrow. Snow showers with patches of blowing snow could result in total accumulation of three inches overnight. Expect a low of around 9 with wind chills of around minus 5. A wind chill advisory will go into effect at 4 a.m. and last until 9 a.m. Saturday with wind chills of around minus 10. Image: Screengrab of National Weather Service Cleveland graphic

 The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for 4 a.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday. Friday's daytime high is expected to reach 12, with a night time low of 10. Wind will be north, 11 mph to 18 mph, with wind chills dipping to 7 below zero. Chance of precipitation will be 80 percent during the day, with possible accumulation of up to an inch of snow, and 50 percent at night, with up to half an inch of snow possible. The Arctic immersion won't last: the NWS projects a daytime high of 32 on Saturday.

 EMTA asks users of their Token Transit app to make sure they're using the latest version of the app to avoid fare payment issues on the "e." The latest version is 4.5.2 and is available for both Apple and Android phones.  For the Apple version, click  here . For the Android version, click  here .

 The public has until tomorrow, February 3, to submit a comment about the city's ActiveErie Bikeways project . The first two bikeways projects are Greengarden Boulevard on the west and French street on the east, with bike lanes going north and south from 6th to 38th streets. You can submit comments and feedback by way of  this page .  Image: City of Erie Government

EMTA's bus-tracking app myStop is down this morning because of an internet outage, the authority reported by way of social media. Some LIFT rides may also be affected.  EMTA says they're working to correct the matter as soon as possible and apologizes for the delay.

Interlake Steamship Company's Kaye E. Barker is wintering at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair at Presque Isle Bay, next to the Erie Maritime Museum. According to the steamship company's website, the Kaye E. Barker is 767 feet long, has a hull depth of 36 feet and a 70-foot beam, and runs on an 8,000-horsepower engine. The freighter was built in 1952. Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News  

 The Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center needs computer-savvy volunteers to help expand the archives' digital collection. No need to be an expert coder or programmer. Basic know-how is all you need. You can sign up and get more information at the  society's website

 Erie Zoo's office is undergoing repairs for water damage that occurred during the holidays, according to a notice on the zoo's website. Anyone having trouble reaching staff during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) can leave a message at (814) 864-4091 or email office@eriezoo.org. A staffer will call or write back as soon as possible, the notice says.

The historic Watson-Curtze Mansion will be closed from January 31 until March 1 for renovations, the Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center said by way of social media. While the society did not give details, it called the renovations "minor" and said the mansion during that time will be open only for special events and special event/wedding tours. The rest of the campus will remain open at the reduced admission of $8 per person. For more information, contact Kelly Bucci at (814) 860-1450 or events@eriehistory.org. The Hagen History Center is at 356 W 6th Street, telephone (814) 454-1813. Campus hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The campus is closed on Monday. 

 The National Weather Service's extended forecast for the city includes lake-effect snow showers through Thursday, February 2. (Yep, Groundhog Day). Here's what the PA Emergency Management Agency says you should do if you're caught in a snow squall on a highway: - Take the next exit. - Don't slam on your brakes. - Slow down gradually. - Turn on headlights and 4-ways. - Focus on staying in your lane. - Give cars ahead of you more space.

 Guest MC Debbie DoesDrag will keep the tunes going at PRIDE Night tonight at the Downtown Erie Community Skating Rink on Perry Square. Hours are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Skating is $5, skate rental included.

 Erie Downtown Partnership will host a Valentine's Day Date Skate at the Downtown Erie Community Skating Rink on that special Tuesday, February 14. Hours are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Skating is $5 and includes skate rental. DJ Bill Page will provide love tunes. The skating rink is at Perry Square.

 West 18th Street between Cascade and Raspberry is closed. The detour for '"e" routes 29 and 229, both inbound and outbound, will use W 19th street, EMTA says.

 The Erie Philharmonic now has a program for children to learn to play flute or clarinet. The program, called Prelude Winds, uses beginner instruments that enable kids to transition to advanced woodwinds. The instruments in the Prelude program are the Dood (clarinet) and the Toot (flute), both by Nuvo. Rehearsals are Tuesday nights at Strong Vincent Middle School,  1330 W 8th Street. The program starts soon. Tuition is $100 per semester. Tuition assistance is available. For information or to register your child for the program, call (814) 455-1375, ext. 124, or email julia@eriephil.org

 A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 1 a.m. tomorrow until 10 a.m. Friday, as the city heads into the weekend with the promise of snow showers through Sunday. The forecast by the National Weather Service in Cleveland indicates the city could see up to 7 inches of snow between Thursday and Friday. Image: Gazette screengrab of NWS Cleveland local forecast page.

 Driving in the storm today? The PA Emergency Management Agency says to keep informed about road conditions, traffic delays, weather, and more by checking  511pa.com  online or by app. You can also have alerts  sent directly to your phone .

 The city might have had 30-below-zero wind chills around the holidays, but the coldest day of the year is yet to come, if past patterns play out. Longterm 30-year averages of climatological data show that the coldest day of the year hits northwest Pennsylvania after February 1, according to the National Weather Service Cleveland. Check out the graphic that NWS Cleveland shared on social media:

 Presque Isle State Park is holding an on-site hiring event today from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Available positions are Lake Erie lifeguard, laborer, semi-skilled laborer, custodial worker, and park resource ranger. The event will take place at the park's Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Room 112, 301 Peninsula Drive.

Expect weather-related delays on some "e" routes today, EMTA said on social media. Route 105/Corry will follow the winter route and not go on Airport Road.  The area is under a winter weather advisory until 4 this afternoon, with a 100 percent chance of snow turning to a wintry mix. The National Weather Service in Cleveland said the city and lakeshore could get up to two inches of snow, while inland could see up to 4 inches.

Here it comes again. Valentine's Day. The yearly rite of romance greeted with wistful sighs by the romantically endowed or disdainful grunts by reality-infused Cupids. Some beloveds through the ages have had stars named after them. The unbeloveds? Not so much. But now the not-so-loveds can have their own namesakes here on earth. Running around. On spindly little legs. All six of them. In what Erie Zoo calls "a perfect way to show your affection or lack thereof," this Valentine's Day you can honor your beloved - or a not-so-loved - by naming one of the zoo's  Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches after them. But it's not for the sake of deriding anyone. It's to support the zoo's conservation programs, which will receive 10 percent of each sale. There are two tiers of naming: $20 and $10. For $20, the Valentine or Un-Valentine will receive a certificate along with a rubber roach in a themed envelope. For $10, the Valentine or Un-Valentine will receive a printab...

 Service changes for "e" routes 16/North East and 229/Fairview take effect Saturday, February 11, EMTA said by way of social media. Below are current and changed schedules for each route. Current Route 16 schedule: Route 16 as of Saturday, February 11: Current Route 229 schedule: Route 229 as of Saturday, February 11: Images: Screengrabs from EMTA's website, ride-the-e.com.

A winter weather advisory will be in effect for the city and northwestern counties in Pennsylvania from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, January 24. The National Weather Service Cleveland says the city and lakeshore could receive up to 3 inches of snow. Image: National Weather Service Cleveland

 Registration is open for the Asbury Woods 4-Mile Trail Run on February 19. The run isn't timed. Organizers say the event is all about enjoying year-round outdoor recreation and fitness on the Woods' trails. You'll be able to warm up after the race with complimentary chili from Cali's West Catering. Erie Beer will provide beverages. Register  here sooner than later: registration is limited to 150. Participants will receive a fleece headband. The run is the first trail run of the year and will start at 1 p.m. at Browns Farm.

 A winter weather advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Monday, January 23. The National Weather Service Cleveland says the area can see total snow accumulation of up to 6 inches by the end of the advisory. Graphic: National Weather Service Cleveland

 Erie Restaurant Week is underway. Participating restaurants and bars are offering special Erie Restaurant Week menus for brunch, lunch, or dinner, or all three. And, organizers say that every time you visit a participating eatery, you'll be entered to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards from VisitErie. Erie Restaurant Week runs through January 29. For more information, visit  VisitErie  online.

 PennDOT continues looking into replacing the state gas tax with a fee based on mileage, also called a mileage-based user fee, or MBUF.   Image: PennDOT The department has been exploring the fee as part of The Eastern Transportation Coalition, a coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia investigating how a MBUF would affect eastern states. Pilot programs involving passenger vehicles and trucks began in 2018. So far, the programs have revealed that, depending on how rates are set, rural driver in Pennsylvania may fare better with MBUF than they do with the gas tax, PennDOT said in an update  on its website. But, while Pennsylvanians in general like a "pay for what you use model," they also have "misperceptions" about the fairness of MBUF toward some vehicles.  Why get rid of the gas tax? The tax was instituted more than 100 years ago, when fuel use was an effective way to figure out how much a driver used the road, PennDOT said on its Facebook page. "W...

Erie City Council is accepting applications to fill a one-year council vacancy . Applicants have until noon Friday, January 27 to submit a one-page resume along with a cover letter answering the following questions: - What is the greatest skill you would bring to the City Council? - Where do you see the most potential in the city? - What obstacle would you most like to address? Each answer must be no longer than 125 words. Applicants must be at least 18 and a resident of the city for at least one year. Applications will be accepted at the Office of the City Clerk, Room 104, Municipal Building, 626 State Street, Erie PA 16501, and by email, cityclerk@erie.pa.us no later than noon Friday, January 27.

 There is a risk of severe thunderstorms late this afternoon into this evening as a line of severe thunderstorms moves eastward across the forecast  area, the National Weather Service in Cleveland said. The main hazard will be damaging wind gusts. A tornado is possible. The greatest threat of severe weather will come between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the greatest risk for Erie coming between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., the NWS said. No alerts or advisories for severe weather have been issued as of this writing. Image: NWS Cleveland  

A squirrel holds its pose as snow in Erie Cemetery succumbs to afternoon sunshine. Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News  

 The public has until February 3 to comment on plans to put new bicycle lanes (bikeways) along Greengarden Boulevard and French Street. The Greengarden lane would be between Bayfront Parkway and W 38th Street. The French Street lane is projected for between E 6th and E 38th streets. Separate surveys for the Greengarden and French Street projects can be accessed  online , along with the plans, presentation slides, and a comment form that can be printed out. The dedicated bikeways are supposed to improve bike and pedestrian safety, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The Greengarden part of the project will include new pavement markings, shared lane markings, crosswalks, signs, drainage upgrades, and minor street repairs. On-street parking south of 26th Street will be restricted for buffered bike lanes. Work is expected to occur during the 2023 construction season, PennDOT said. The French Street improvements will include new pavement markings, ...

Safe intersections along a bus route are considered bus stops even if they're not marked as a stop, EMTA reminds riders by way of social media. If you're at an unmarked stop on a route, make sure to get the driver's attention by stepping forward, waving, and/or making eye contact with the driver.

Lay-up season for the Great Lakes ships has begun. The 767-foot, self-discharging lake freighter  Kaye E. Barker  is now parked at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair , next to the  Erie Maritime Museum , which reported its arrival by way of social media. The Kaye E. Barker is owned by the  Interlake Steamship Company .

 You can help  Erie Playhouse kick off its 2023 season by taking part in the kickoff, a celebration of the work of Cole Porter called - what else? - A Cole Porter Celebration. The program will take place on Feburary 18 at 7:30 p.m. and February 19 at 2 p.m., and you can participate onstage or in the orchestra. The concert will be conducted by Bruce Yates, with Devon Yates teaching vocals. And no, you don't have to memorize the material! To be a part of the performances, or for more information, contact Richard at richardd@erieplayhouse.org. Erie Playhouse is at 13 W. 10th Street.

 Erie Playhouse is holding auditions for The Diary of Anne Frank Sunday, January 22 and  Monday, January 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. both evenings. This is an adaptation of the original stage play that includes survivor accounts and newly discovered writings, creating what the Playhouse calls "an adaptation for a new generation able to confront the true horrors of the Holocaust."   Check here  for details.

 Today is the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and if you were wondering if the "e" was running as usual ... it is. All buses are running as scheduled, according to the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority. 

 The Mercyhurst Civic Orchestra is looking for new members, especially those who play woodwinds and brass. There are also openings for percussion and strings. Rehearsals are Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mercyhurst's Walker Recital Hall, starting this Thursday, January 19. Two concerts are slated for the spring: Sunday, March 26, with a program consisting of Elgar's Enigma Variations and Vaughan Williams' English Folk Song Suite,  and Sunday, May 7, with a program of works, to be announced, performed by winners of the Mercyhurst Concerto/Aria competition. For more information, contact conductor Matthew Salvaggio at msalvaggio@mercyhurst.edu.

 A winter weather advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Saturday, with a total of between 4 and 6 inches of snow expected for the area. The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority says the weather may cause some buses to experience delays. Commuters are urged to use the myStop app or  website  for live information about their bus.

 The Erie Philharmonic is replacing its May 13 performance of Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky with Mozart's  Requiem . The change was inspired by Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, according to the orchestra's post on social media. Alexander Nevsky is the soundtrack to the Sergei Eisenstein film about a Russian victory over an attempted invasion by the Holy Roman Empire in the late 13th century. Released in 1938, the movie was Soviet propaganda against Nazi Germany, and now, nearly a year into Russia's war against Ukraine, "the current Russian administration is using it for propaganda purposes," said music director Daniel Meyer. "We appreciate that music can have a powerful ability to unite communities, and we have chosen instead to perform Mozart's Requiem to celebrate the spirit of the Ukrainian people and commemorate those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of peace," Meyer said. The Philharmonic said it will dedicate 10 percent of...

  The Geek Army was named Erie's Best Cover Band of 2022 in the Erie Reader's year-end poll. Among the other "Best of Erie" winners are Eric Brewer & Friends (Original Band); Eric Brewer (Instrumentalist); Elle Taylor (New Band/Musician); Audra Miller (Vocalist); Pressed Books & Coffee (Local Book Store); Ink Assassins (Tattoo Parlor); Crew Life Productions (Production Company); Glass Growers Gallery (Art Gallery); the Erie Playhouse (Community Theatre); Kaitlyn Page (Visual Artist); Katie Mihalak Photography (Photography). Click  here  for the complete results of the Erie Reader's poll.

 All Erie's Public Schools middle-school students attending athletic events hosted by EPS must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times during the event, EPS said by way of social media. The idea is to "ensure that EPS events are fun and safe experiences for all of our students, families and guests."  "You will be held responsible for your child's behavior," EPS said in the post.

 Drink up local history along with real beer on the Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center's Club & Pub Tour of ethnic and social clubs Saturday, February 18. The tour runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and starts and ends at Julius - formerly the Maennenchor Club - at 16 State Street. Other watering holes are Polish Falcons, 431 E. 3rd Street; Slovak Club, 902 Hess; Nuova Aurora, 1518 Walnut Street, and Sophia's Tavern, 514 Cherry Street. Don't worry about drinking and driving from place to place. You'll be taking a bus, courtesy of EMTA. Tickets include one glass of beer and history at each site. Cost is $30 for history center members, $35 for non-members. Must be 21! Click  here for tickets .

A tree at Erie Cemetery lives with iron fencing through its roots. Photo: The Gazette of Really Small News

You don't have to be an "e" rider to take the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority's online survey  about its services. The survey is available now until February 10, and asks you to rate all aspects of the "e," including affordability and accessibility.

 If you took photos of the old Erie Lions hockey team, the Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center would like to hear  from you. The Society is seeking original professional or good-quality amateur photos or negatives of the team, which was active from 1963 to 1974. If you can help, contact Director of Library & Archives Theresa Gamble at (814) 454-1813, ext. 30, or tgamble@eriehistory.org.

 The city's historic review commission anticipates a draft of its preservation plan for historic city buildings will be ready for review in late spring, commission member Chris Kinder said at the board's Monday, January 9 meeting. Some locations in the city are already on the National Register of Historic Places. The commission's plan, which will designate historic sites in the city as well as a strategy to preserve them, will be Erie's first.

For $25 you can rent a pair of buckets that Asbury Woods will use to tap maple trees for sap that will become maple syrup. Each bucket holds up to four gallons of sap. If you don't know how to make maple syrup from sappy scratch, fret not: an Asbury Woods staff member will correspond with you to guide you each step of the way. Check  here  for more information and to register.

 Asbury Woods' Squeaky Frog Gift Shop will be closed today through Friday, January 13 for end-of-year inventory, the environmental partnership said on social media. The Nature Center and exhibit hall remain open to the public. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. The trails are open from dawn to dusk every day. Asbury Woods  is at 4105 Asbury Road,  tel. (814) 835-5356. 

 How much food should you stock up on in case of emergency? A few days' worth, according to the PA Emergency Management Agency. "We know groceries are pricey right now," the agency said on social media, "but it's important to build up your pantry with a few days' worth of food if you can." The agency doesn't elaborate, but "can" might be the key word here. Emergency management officials here and nationwide in the past have said that "nonperishables" - canned and packaged food - are best to stock up on in case of a power outage and shortages caused by natural disasters or supply-chain problems. Temperatures this time of year might be suitable for keeping food safely fridge-cold out of doors, but do you really want to go out in a storm to retrieve last night's leftovers?

This is the last day you can see the fabulous holiday decorations at the Erie County Historical Society-Hagen History Center. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. and admission is free, thanks to support from Erie Insurance. In addition to the decorations, visitors can also see the Frank Lloyd Wright San Francisco Office, the Curtze Legacy Room, the Erie Jewish Heritage Exhibit, The Story of Us, the Wood-Morrison House, doll houses, and the hunting and fishing exhibit, with its taxidermed bear and beaver. The  Center is at 356 West 6th Street, tel. (814) 454-1813.

 PennState Extension is accepting applications for its Master Watershed Steward program. Deadline is February 12. Information sessions are February 1 and February 8, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Training will be both virtual and in-person on Wednesday evenings starting March 8. Click  here  to view the extension's video about watershed stewards, for details about the program, and to register.

 Asbury Woods will light up deep winter - and hearts - with pre-Valentine's Day luminaria on Friday, February 10. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. lovers or just plain friends will be able to stroll through the woods on paths framed in the flickering lights of luminaries, then warm themselves by a cozy fire with sweet treats and music in the picnic shelter. Fee is $15 per person. Add $5 for childcare if needed. Registration is required. You can sign up  here .

 Old, but still true. 

 The Downtown Erie Community Skating Rink in Perry Square will be open Friday through Sunday in January and February. Hours are Friday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The Erie Downtown Partnership, which runs the rink, says there will be special events on Thursday evenings, too, so keep an eye on its social media and website calendar, too.

 The City of Erie is seeking to fill a position that combines creating, implementing, and marketing events that celebrate the city's diverse cultures. The title is Events Manager, but according to the city's post on social media the EM will also serve as the executive director of Cultures, Arts, Festivals and Events of Erie (CAFE), a 501(c)3 organization. CAFE is behind CelebrateErie, Lights Over Lake Erie, Sounds of Summer, and the 814 Concert Series. The official post says the events manager will "set the vision, lead strategy, and manage finances, marketing, fundraising, and planning and implementation of all CAFE events and programs." The opening is posted on Indeed (dot) com, where salary is listed at $55,000 to $60,000 per year. For more information or to apply, click  here .

 Registration is underway for the 2023 edition of Lake Erie Cyclefest July 27 to 30. Bicyclists have a choice of six rides around Erie County: The Lake Erie Cyclefest Downtown Slow Roll, which opens the event on July 27; the Grape Escape Ride through grape country on July 28; the Tour de West County on July 29; the Six Mile Creek Classic race for mountain bikes, also on July 29; the Presque Isle Sunrise Ride on July 30, and See Spot Ride, Ride for Animal Rescue, also on July 30. Registration is required for all events. Most rides have fees that are reduced before specific, separate deadlines. Only the Downtown Slow Roll is free. Cyclefest 2023 is under the auspices of the Erie Sports Commission. Proceeds will benefit Asbury Woods, Because You Care Inc., Bike Erie, Erie Downtown Partnership, Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association, and the Presque Isle Partnership. Click  here   to register or for more information. 

 The Erie Art Museum will hold a workshop for artists submitting works for its100th annual spring show on Saturday, January 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Museum staff will be on hand to help photograph works, enter submissions online, and help participants with the payment process, This is a drop-in workshop, free but first-come, first-served. Participants are asked to arrive no earlier than 10 a.m. and no later than 1 p.m. Click  here  for more information.

 Artists near and slightly far have until January 20 to submit work for consideration in the Erie Art Museum's 100th Annual Nicole and Harry Martin Spring Show. The show is open to artists living, working, or studying in or within 250 miles of the city. The online submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. January 20. Each artist may submit up to three works. There are fees. Museum members pay $20 for the first work and $10 each for additional entries. Non-members pay $30 for the first work and $20 each for additional entries. The fees are non-refundable, according to the show prospectus . All media are welcome, however because of space limitations, the museum asks that submissions not exceed 72 inches in any dimension or weigh more than 100 pounds. Contact  museum staff  before entry deadline if the work you're proposing for consideration requires special installation. All submissions should have been created in the last three years and never before exhibited at the Erie Art Muse...

 Be ready for driving through dense fog along the lakeshore this morning. The National Weather Service office in Cleveland is reporting patches of fog keeping visibility to a quarter of a mile or less. The NWS advises driving slowly with low beams on and plenty of room behind the car ahead of you. 

 Usually open once a week on Monday, Erie Free Store will be closed Monday, January 2 and Monday, January 9 before opening for the new year with something a little different. "Our volunteers are taking this time to rest, then we will reorganize the store and plan on how to make 2023 our best year yet!" the charity announced on social media. The store, located at the Elmwood Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2816 Elmwood Ave., is not accepting donations at this time but before it reopens will say which items are needed most.

Gleanings From Asbury Park is a look at what small - but not unimportant - stuff is happening in the rock-famous world of  the Asbury Park region of coastal Monmouth County, New Jersey. The title is a riff on Bruce Springsteen's album 'Greetings From Asbury Park,' which helped turn the small seaside city into a major rock venue after its release - 50 years ago - on January 5, 1973. Asbury Park: On New Year's Eve, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued dense fog advisories for Asbury Park and other Monmouth County towns. The advisories ended at 4 a.m. on New Year's Day. Asbury Park : The Stone Pony's ready to host the Light of Day WinterFest 2023 January 13 and 15. The Light of Day Foundation says it uses "the awesome power of music" to raise awareness of Parkinson's Disease, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy). Acts at the Stone Pony include Asbury Angels with Joe Grushecky & the Houserocke...