Midges

The Midge, also known as mufflehead, is not the red-headed, freckled best friend of Barbie. (Blogger's note: I'm totally inspired to drive to my parents' house and do blogs and blogs about all my Barbies.) 

But rather that really annoying bug that seems to have invaded Erie, Pa. Apparently they took up residence in Cleveland a few years ago.

What are they and where do they come from? Is it just me? Did these bugs come from nowhere?

Maybe they have been around Erie for years and I just live closer to the Lake Erie... but I couldn't seem to find any articles about midges in Erie during my (less-than-scholarly) online searches. The midges were around a few weeks ago -- and the only way I identified them were from my Cleveland friends' Facebook posts. Now they seem to have come back for a second round and are hanging out on my porch and windows and exterior siding and shed. Annoying.

But besides bothering humans, these bugs help balance the ecosystem by acting as fodder for fish and other aquatic life. It also means Lake Erie has gotten much healthier.

Midges, or muffleheads, now occupy the Great Lakes region due to a change in lake temperature. Specifically, they spawn during times of water-warming and water-cooling.

Midges are not Mayflies. Mayflies do not belong to the midge family; mayflies are related to dragonflies. However like midges, mayflies live in lakes and only come onto land during their brief adulthood.

Not a fan of swarming insects? Don’t be alarmed. These plentiful pests are non-biting and only live for short spans. Muffleheads/midges live for about a week while the mayflies would be lucky to last one day in adulthood.

Unfortunately these pests, which have, in once instance, actually shown up on weather radar systems due to their prevalence, don’t look like they’ll be packing their metaphorical bug-bags any time soon. The Great Lakes climate and proximity to water make for ideal breeding grounds. The multiplication of these pests also means that we’ve come a long way since pollution defined Lake Erie. While a nuisance, these bugs can be kept at bay with common bug spray.

So. Are these insects bugging you? Have they been around Erie for awhile and I have been living under a (indoor, of course) rock?

Wild Wednesday: Green Your Picnic

Summer's here! To celebrate the long, hot days, rally your friends or family and pack a picnic. Sierra Club offers tips will help you keep it green.

Tip # 1: Keep it local.
Don't be tempted to drive to your picnic. There's nothing more summery than strapping a basket to the back of your bicycle or strolling to the nearest meadow. Discover the Forest is a handy website by which to find a nearby park, or just open up Google Maps and look for the green patches. You'll be surprised at what pockets of nature you can find just around the block. If you can't get there with muscle power, consider taking public transit or carpooling.

Tip # 2: Eat Your Veggies
Rethink your go-to ham sandwich and make the best of summer’s bountiful produce — meat doesn’t keep well in the sun, anyway. Try vegetarian alternatives like hearty portobello mushroom burgers or a refreshing bean-and-corn salad.

Tip # 3: Keep it Clean
What with chip bags, pop cans, and paper napkins, picnics can create a huge mess. You should leave zero waste on the ground, but you may also try to generate no garbage. It's easy: Bring refillable water bottles, cloth napkins, reusable or biodegradable cutlery and plates, and food in Tupperware containers as opposed to plastic bags. After the party, check around your picnic area and pick up scraps, then bring them home to your compost pile.

Tip # 4: Engage with Nature
Picnics are all about getting your family outdoors. Why not inspire kids' post-meal scampering with a nature scavenger hunt? Challenge them to find five exciting plants or animals, then use a field guide to identify all the critters they discover. If you're enjoying a food coma and just want to gaze at the sky, open up a cloud-spotting book and learn about our atmosphere.

You Tube-sday: Fairview Bears?

Tryouts for the new mascot were last week. FAIL.



A black bear visits the loading dock at Fairview High School, Erie, Pa. on June 16, 2011.

Zucchini Pancakes

I opened my veggie drawer with the thought, "oh geez, what am I going to do with these zucchini?" Then I thought, maybe I could make them into pancakes - like the rocking potato pancakes I made last month.

So without a recipe, I just gave it a whirl.

Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese
3-4 tablespoons of flour
garlic power to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Finely grate zucchini. Sprinkle with salt and toss to combine.
2. Let drain for 30 minutes, then pick up by the handful and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
3. Mix in egg, black pepper, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. Add enough flour to make mixture thick, about 3 to 4 tablespoons all together.
4. Heat oil in the bottom of a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Drop two or three 1/4 cup mounds into hot oil, and flatten to make 1/2 inch thick pancakes. Fry, turning once, until golden brown. Transfer to paper towel lined plates to drain. Repeat until all potato mixture is used.  
5. Serve warm, sprinkled with parm cheese, and dip in ranch dressing or marinara sauce.

Review of my recipe-less zucchini pancakes:

The flavor was great. I was craving something crunchy, but these pancakes had the consistancy of -- get this -- pancakes. Go figure. But I don't want to knock them. Gimme cheese and garlic and I love it. I will be making these again! I hope you give these a try as a side dish or as a vegetarian entree. Enjoy!

Foto Friday: Winter Photography

This winter brings some tough snow and cold conditions to much of the country. A lot of people not only quit going outside, but also quit taking photos of nature. Nature is still around in winter, and if you keep your camera from hibernating, you will find some great photo ops around you.
Here are some tips to help you get better photos in winter:

Keep an extra battery warm. Your camera will do fine in the cold, but your batteries won’t. Be ready to trade a cold battery for a warm one if you camera stops working properly.

Find a pair of flexible gloves. I have found nice fleece gloves with a rubberized grip that work very well (fleece gloves need the grip because the fleece is too slippery on a camera). A store that sells hunting clothing will often have great gloves for photographers, too (although you might have to try out a camouflage style).

Use a two-glove system when it is really cold. I usually have a lighter pair of gloves for shooting, then a large pair of mittens to go over them in between shots.

Wear warm boots and socks. Photographers often stand around a bit as they wait for sunset, for example, so warm boots are really a plus.

Watch your exposure. Snow is white and should usually look white in a photograph, not gray. Snow scenes often cause a camera to underexpose it. Try increasing your exposure compensation by a full step (most digital cameras have this ability).

Never bring a cold camera directly into a warm space. This can cause very unwelcome condensation on—and much worse, inside—your camera. Put your camera inside a zipped camera bag or inside a plastic Zip-Loc or other sealable bag, then bring it inside to warm up.

Get outside right after it snows. Some of the best snow conditions for photography happen then.

Get outside right after a quick drop in temperature. That’s when you often find some fantastic ice formations to photograph.

Photograph snow and ice at sunrise and sunset. Winter sunsets are early and often have great color. Both sunrise and sunset color reflects in the snow and ice.

If you get serious about winter photography, think about investing in a pair of snowshoes. Snowshoes will get you just about anywhere you need to be for a photograph. Skis can limit where you can go, and snow is often too deep to walk in regular shoes for any distance. Plus the speed at which you travel on snowshoes is about right for photography.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

P.S. If you want to see some incredible snowflake photography, mark your calendars for "Lake Effect Lace" Exhibit by Carol Posch Comstock at the Erie Art Museum from November 26, 2011 to February 25, 2012.

it's not greek to me

The 23rd Annual Panegyri Greek Festival (blogger's note: don't bother visiting the website, it doesn't have any useful information) is July 8-11, 2011 at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (4376 West Lake Road, Erie, PA).

Friday, July 08: 2:30-11 p.m.
Saturday, July 09: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, July 10: Noon-9 p.m.

Admission and parking are free.

The Greek Fest is so well received by the Erie community and the tri-state area it was voted as one of the top two premier events in Erie. This year's festival promises the same excellent experience.

I basically blog about this festival every year because it is my fav, so I won't bore you with re-dos. If you want to bore yourself (just kidding, I'm sure), you can check out 2008's: Gimme Some Greek and 2010's Panegyri Greek Festival (apparently I forgot in 2009 to blog about it).

I can't wait for some mouthwatering, creamy moussaka and some crispy, flaky spanakopita! Also, this year I plan to try ouzo for the first time. (Might as well, I tried beer and vodka at the Russian Festival this year.)

Hope to see you there. I will be there Friday night. (Oh yes, I already know which day I will attend. That's not a tip; there is no one day that is better or less crowded.)

Celebrating Summer Solstice

It's finally summer! Hooray! In celebration of the first day of summer, I gardened. Yep. You read right.

As I was running a (quick) errand, I walked by the outdoor plants at Giant Eagle. Marked down to $1.25 were vegetable plants. Since that's cheaper than the actual store bought veggies, I pounced.

I already planted zucchini seeds about a week and a half ago (a late start, I realize). But I don't think I see the seedlings sprouting. Patience has never been a strength of mine.

In addition to (hopefully) the zucchini I will be growing, I planted a Bell Boy Sweet Pepper plant and a Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper plant.

Here's my "garden" and compost bin.

Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper: This pepper is a type of chili pepper developed in Hungary. It closely resembles the banana pepper and can be used in a variety of ways in cooking. These peppers can get quite large if they are allowed to grow to maturity, but they are usually harvested when they are about the length of a hand. Hungarian wax peppers are naturally yellow at the time of harvest, although they can develop a rich red color if they are allowed to fully mature. The “wax” in the name is a reference to the slightly waxy texture of the rind of the pepper. Despite the texture, the rind is perfectly edible and in fact very flavorful. In terms of heat, Hungarian wax peppers fall around the middle of the spectrum. The flavor is fairly mild, but it has a hint of a kick which can be distasteful to people who are extremely sensitive to heat. Some people remove the seeds and white ribs from the pepper to reduce the heat, while others prefer to leave them in so that they can get a good hit of the spicy flavor.

Bell Boy Sweet Pepper: The 'Bell Boy' Sweet Pepper Plant produces a sweet pepper with large, block-shaped fruit that is dark green to red when mature. Bell Boy was an All-America Selections Winner in 1967. Bell Boy is a very popular hybrid pepper. It has crispy, thick walls that increase in sweetness as it matures. It is considered one of the best all-purpose early bell peppers. This sturdy, vigorous plant bears a heavy crop of large, blocky, mostly 4 lobed peppers which can be used when deep glossy green or left to turn bright red. Fruits are uniformly large, thick walled and fine quality.

Happy Summer!

YouTube-sday: Thank God for Glass

Words Hinder Generation Y's Credibility and Professionalism

As a Gen-Y'er, I feel I constantly have to combat ageism in the workplace. It is difficult to prove you deserve your job, your opinions are valid, you are capable to handle a task, and what you have to offer is valuable. And while we may not have frown lines and grey hairs, there is a simple thing Gen Y'ers can do to demonstrate they are competent. Allison Tibbs from the examiner.com shares four secret words/phrases we should eliminate from our conversations:
1. “Like” – Being a product of the “Clueless” generation, I am amazed at how many times Gen Y’ers use the word “like” in one sentence. Not only do you sound like a complete “Valley Girl” but it is quite distracting to the listener of your conversation. Try to use more substantial filler words or take subtle pauses, to help gather your thoughts.

2. “You guys” – One of my colleagues in New York, did a presentation to newly hired employees, who were recent college graduates, regarding the phrase “you guys”. She said that it was very unprofessional and could be deemed disrespectful to an older audience if you continue to refer to them as “you guys”. It also seems a bit informal.

3. “Awesome” – Lately, I’ve noticed when conducting mock interviews, when I asked a person how they enjoyed an experience, especially an internship or study abroad program, they all replied with “Awesome!” I was then waiting for them to blurt “cowabunga” or another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phrase. Trust me, there are more professional ways to explain your contentment with an experience. If you are still stumped, try using a thesaurus to find some.

4. “You know” – This is another filler phrase, similar to “like”, that is very distracting and unprofessional. This is used more when people are explaining something. If you are looking for clarification from your audience that they understand what you are saying, you can take a pause and ask the group “do you have any questions?” It is just a bit more professional and you keep control of the conversation, you know?

As Tibbs says, start to pay attention to how many times you use any of these phrases. You’d be surprised how many times you use at least one of these phrases or words. By tweaking your vocabulary, you can create a personal brand and image that will allow you to move forward in the professional atmosphere as a competent Gen Y'er.

Source: Examiner.com

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Dad's Day to all the fathers out there, but specifically my fav Daddio. Growing up on 10 acres with a dad who loved nature really helped instill an appreciation of the environment in me. Here are some tips from the Sierra Club about the greenest ways to thank our dads.

Tip #1: Go hiking.
If you live near your parents, take them for a hike. With so much nature in Erie, Pa., we have treks ranging from easy strolls to strenuous excursions. If your dad is like most, he just wants to spend time with you, and what better way than in an outdoor place of beauty? Take advantage of this good excuse to get out there and spend some quality time with your folks.

Tip #2: Get crafty.
One of the simplest ways to give Dad a green gift is to be creative with objects you find around the house. A crafted present will likely take a little longer than a bought one, but it'll also remind him of the macaroni-picture-frame days of yore. You could go classic and make him a custom tie, for example, or keep it simple and press some flowers on a card. Sierra magazine's Repurpose column provides good ideas for enlivening old stuff.

Tip #3: Cook a local dinner.
Take an hour or so over the weekend to prepare some delicious, hearty local food for Dad. Summer's just begun, so our farmers' markets are in full swing, with plenty of seasonal, ethically farmed options. Local Harvest's directory lists farmers' markets across America (although not all of Erie's farmers' markets deets are listed). Once you’ve found your ingredients, decide on something exciting to cook.

Tip #4: Plug him into renewable energy.
If your dad loves gadgets, consider getting him a solar-powered charger for his laptop, phone, iPod, or other favorite electronic. Dad'll be saving energy, and you'll be likelier to convince him to go camping with you: Solar power doesn’t need a plug, so he won’t miss any important calls out in the woods.


Dad and I on Mother's Day (mom was taking this picture)
along Four Mile Creek in the Wintergreen Gorge.

Foto Friday: Capturing Movement

One of the challenges of still photography — nature photography in particular — is trying to create a feeling of life and movement in a medium that inherently presents a moment frozen in time. Combining movement with that moment can be an extremely effective way to stop a viewer in his tracks and invite him to study the image more closely.

Controlled blur
The most common method to bring movement to a photograph is to introduce what you might call “controlled blur,” known officially as panning. This keeps the subject in focus while the background blurs, creating a feeling of speed. To create this effect:

Take it slow. Panning requires a slower shutter speed than you would typically use for a moving subject. This image of the running pheasant was captured with a 500mm lens and was shot at 125th of a second. That sounds fairly fast. But when combined with the magnification of a 500mm lens, it’s actually fairly slow.

Focus sharply on the subject. The key to a good panning image is to remain sharply focused on the subject, moving or panning the lens with that subject as it travels horizontally.

Keep the camera steady. Mounting your camera on a tripod is also helpful but with lens stabilization technology it’s now easier to accomplish the same goal while holding your equipment in your hands.

Don’t be stingy. With this method, you have to shoot lots of images to score any keepers.

Still subject, moving surroundings
Another technique for adding motion works with driving snow and rain, as in the case of this resting polar bear. Once again I opt for a slower shutter speed (this bear was shot at 1/15th of a second). This time the subject is stationary while the heavy snow is falling and streaking across the digital capture sensor.

As the snow drives towards the ground it leaves a blurred trail and gives the feeling of movement. The bear remains sharp, giving the eye something to comfortably focus on.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

DELIcious Deli

After reading mouthwatering reviews from Erie Blogs, Beard vs. Food, and Erie Times-News, I knew I had to eat at Gerry Urbaniak's 8th Street Deli. (Blogger's note: Woah, lots o' links in that sentence.)

The problem, it's located on the westside of Erie and only open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hmm, that does present a logistical issue for this Eastsider.

Finally, I had an opportunity on Friday with former roomie/current friend Amy when we both had the day off (well, I had a whole day, she had a half day).

And let me just say, in the Erie delicatessen on that cloudy afternoon, I didn't rave about how tasty my sandwich was because I was too busy stuffing it in my mouth. I didn't even offer a bit to Amers. Oopsie.

So what was this DELIghtful (Oh yea. Pun number two.) sandwich, you ask? The Chicago Special: pastrami and turkey, with Swiss cheese and secret dressing, served hot on rye bread.

Sounds good. But not earth shattering (aka blog-worthy).
But wait until you learn this.

Gerry gets his corned beef, pastrami, and turkey from Sy Ginsberg, the same raw meat supplier to Katz Deli in New York City (which is featured in When Harry Met Sally. Yea. That scene. And by the way, I did order the secret sauce "on the side.")

The corned beef and turkey breast are specially seasoned and roasted right there at the deli. And the seasoning recipe for the pastrami comes from Myron Cohen, whose father was involved with NYC's Second Avenue Deli. After the beef brisket is wet cured, it is roasted and smoked, with flavoring that includes pepper, salt, garlic, sugar, ground mustard, coriander and chopped pepper.

While I don't consider myself a foodie, I could taste the freshness, I could taste the roastness (inventing words here), I could taste the quality.

Erie, Pennsylvania is lucky to have this deli which can be easily compared to New York City's -- but at Erie, Pa. prices.

It is open on Saturdays, and while it is hard to pass on a Sara's meal and orange/vanilla twist. Try.

Plus, Gerry Urbaniak's 8th Street Deli has take-out and a deli counter. So you don't necessarily have to do lunch at the Colony Plaza to enjoy these DELIctable (technically, it's spelled delectable) cuts of meat.

Yum!

Wild Wednesday: How to Steer Birds Clear of Windows

Window collisions with low-level structures like houses account for between 100 million and 1 billion bird fatalities in the United States each year, according to Daniel Klem, a professor at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. His research has also shown that these collisions — which involve both migrant and resident species — occur during all seasons, all times of day and with windows facing any direction.

Many people don't even notice the birds dying beneath their picture windows. "Birds that are injured or dead will be scavenged a majority of the time," says Michael Mesure, program director for the Fatal Light Awareness Program, a Toronto-based group that documents and raises awareness about the problem. "Birds that fly away can also later die of their injuries. Many times they have broken beaks, which makes foraging impossible, or they die from a brain hemorrhage."

The long-term solution is to design glass that is less reflective, says Mesure. But in the short-term, he and other experts offer some advice for homeowners who want to minimize the number of bird-window strikes at their houses.

Make sure birds are not flying at full speed when they hit. Many times window strikes occur after a scare from the neighbor's cat or a hawk scatters the birds at a feeder in all directions. House plants hanging on the inside or vegetation reflecting from the outside may mislead a hapless bird into thinking the area is a passage to safety. But if feeders, baths, and other bird attractants are placed three feet or less from the window, no matter how fast the bird takes off, if it hits the window it will bounce to the ground, dazed but alive.

To help a bird while it recovers place a colander over the bird and weight it down so that it can't be tipped over by a predator.

If it's not possible to remove or relocate bird perches and feeders, home owners can cover windows with netting, especially during peak migration periods. "Soccer-grade netting is best but it must be stretched taut so that birds don't get caught," says Mesure. "If they collide it will act like a trampoline and bounce them to safety." An old storm-window screen hung outside the window will also work well.

Decals of falcons, owls or spiderwebs on windows rarely work. "When effective the decals become impractical, as they'd have to cover 80 percent of the glass," says Mesure. When using silhouettes, he recommends hanging them by chain or rope from an overhang so that they will stand out more by blowing in the wind.

Try interior coverings such as blinds and curtains. If you live in a high rise, this works well to warn birds on nighttime flights. For residential home owners, this will only make a difference when the sun is shining directly on the window.

Consider placing a few dead branches in front of a problem window. The branches will reflect, but they'll also slow the bird down a bit. Planting a shade tree or some shrubbery close to the window will serve the same purpose, as will an awning.

Hang streamers of shiny, reflective plastic ribbon or strips of black garbage bags in front of problem windows. "Anything that glitters and moves in the breeze will help prevent a bird from colliding with a window," says Mesure.

Let windows get a little grimy. "Don't clean them” says Mesure. “The dirtier the window, the less reflection and the more birds will see it as a solid object."

Source: National Wildlife Federation

29 Ways to Stay Creative

I love these ideas. Check it:

Do You Know Jack?

Jack-in-the-Pulpit, that is. Also known as a bog onion, brown dragon, Indian turnip, wake robin or wild turnip (Arisaema triphyllum) is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a corm. It is a highly variable species typically growing from 30 to 65 cm in height with three parted leaves and flowers contained in a spadix that is covered by a hood. It is native to eastern North America, occurring in moist woodlands and thickets

The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals as raphides in all parts, and because of this consumption of the raw plant material results in a powerful burning sensation. It can cause irritation of the mouth and digestive system, and on rare occasions the swelling of the mouth and throat may be severe enough to affect breathing. If the plant is properly dried or cooked it can be eaten as a root vegetable. A preparation of the root was reported to have been used by Native Americans as a treatment for sore eyes. Preparations were also made to treat rheumatism, bronchitis, and snakebites, as well as to induce sterility.

These Jack-in-the-Pulpit wild flowers were photographed in Erie, Pennsylvania along Four-Mile Creek in Harborcreek Township's Wintergreen Gorge.

Foto Friday: Photography at Night

Whether you're camping under the stars or simply going for a moonlit walk, remember to bring along your camera and follow these tips for photography at night.

Take photos when the sun sets and/or moon rises. The light at these times of day will add ambiance to your photos.

Bring along a flashlight. It will help you locate the buttons on your camera and spot any wildlife nearby.

Use the night mode setting on your camera, if available. With digital cameras it's easy to experiment with different settings and delete the ones that don't work.

Stabilize your camera with a tripod or other sturdy surface. This technique helps in low-light situations. You need a long exposure to grab all the available light, which means a shaky hand could blur the image.

Shoot photos at different angles. Sit down, climb on fences or chairs. You may be able to capture the perfect photo from an angle you never expected.

Don't use the flash. Using the flash at night may overexpose elements of your photo. Turn it back on if your photos are too dark.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

Patience. Remember, when photographing wildlife, have patience, be respectful, and keep your distance.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

Vlog Day: Introduce Yourself #20sbvlogday

This video post is part of 20SB’s Vlog Day and the topic is “Introduce Yourself”…anyone can participate! Details are here. Here's just a quick (less than 3 minute video about me).




Will you participate in today's Vlog Day? Why or why not?

Wild Wednesday: Monarch Butterfly Garden

Monarch butterflies, known for their exquisite orange and black markings and large size, appear in North America’s gardens in spring, summer, and fall. They are especially recognized for their lengthy annual migration from the eastern half North America to the central highlands of Mexico where they winter over in such numbers and in such close proximity that their tiny bodies will collectively weigh-down entire trees.

The monarch is the only butterfly that migrates seasonally in the same way that birds do. Their massive southward migration begins in August and extends through the first frost. The northward migration takes place in the spring but there are interesting twists to this part of the annual journey. First, the northward journey actually takes two to three egg-laying generations. Then, when the butterflies have reached the northern apex of their journey, a special fourth generation reverses direction and makes the thousands mile-long trek back to Mexico. How they have the ability to find their home refuges in Mexico is one of the deepest mysteries of animal world. Here is a video (six minutes) on the life cycle of the monarch with some truly amazing footage of the massing butterflies in their winter refuge in Mexico.

Gardeners who want to attract Monarch butterflies to their yard need to know about two magic ingredients.

The first and most important is milkweed. It is the Monarch’s favorite food and is the main choice for its larvae. Interestingly, milkweed has a toxin, which is ingested by the larvae. It gives the butterflies a specific taste that most predators don’t like. Larger gardens can handle Common Milkweed. It is a good plant for a wildflower meadow and needs space to roam, but it can be a bit aggressive in smaller gardens where a better choice would probably be Swamp Milkweed. It has attractive pink to purple flowers and does not actually require wet conditions to thrive. You can learn more about milkweed by visiting American Beauties.

The second key ingredient to Monarch success is water. Butterflies mostly drink from moisture in and on flowers including nectar and water droplets. Butterflies will drink from standing water such as puddles, ponds, and bird baths but they also enjoy “misters.” These devices spray mists over parts of the garden. Pollinators like them because of the tiny water droplets they leave on flowers. Monarchs will be especially appreciative.

Water and milkweed will make your garden a welcoming oasis for beautiful Monarch butterflies.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

Eastway Plaza Update

As you may remember, back in January I reported (I'll use that term loosely) about the promise of new devlopement in Harborcreek's Eastway Plaza.

On Thursday, the new retailer for the plaza was announced. Giant Eagle.

Giant Eagle announced it will be building a brand new Harborcreek store where the Eastway Plaza is located. The new Giant Eagle will be 92,000 square feet, which is about 32,000 square feet larger than its existing store that is located almost across the street.

Benderson Development Company (owner of Eastway Plaza) says it will be demolishing much of the eastern portion of the plaza (about two-thirds of the entire plaza). The company says it should have a building ready pad ready to go by October 1st, then about 35 to 36 weeks of construction. The new store should be open by next spring.

Businesses operating in the area of the plaza that could be affected by demolition -- including the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Driver's License Center -- would likely be relocated to other areas of the plaza.

The project also calls for complete renovation of the remaining portion of the plaza's facade, along with new parking, green space, lighting, and stormwater management systems.

In addition, there will also be a 5,000 square foot outbuilding built on the lot. At this time, Benderson would not say what that building will house.

Future plans for the current Giant Eagle site are not immediately clear.

Just a few of this Harborcreek blogger's thoughts:
1) The HC Giant Eagle store just did a huge renovation to its shelves and arrangement of products that the shoppers had to deal with for months (and then learn where all the products were relocated to). Why? What was the point?
2) Does Giant Eagle moving across the street help development in Harborcreek? The township didn't bring in another business, it just shifted one.
3) What's going to happen to the old Giant Eagle plaza? Is it going to become the new dilapidated plaza of HC?
4) Are new drivers testing for their license going to ding all the shoppers' cars?
5) Will HC add at least one more light to exit the Eastway plaza? Which in turn adds another light Buffalo Road drivers have to fight.

What do you think about the move? Should we Harborcreekers be excited, indifferent, or disappointed?

(I was really hoping for a Target or a Wegman's. So I'm bummed. But maybe the new undisclosed other business that will be in the outbuilding will be Panera or Starbucks. That would be lovely.)

Best Coastal Bike Trail

Featured in Coastal Living, Presque Isle State Park is ranked as one of the best coastal bike trails in the country. Out of the simple, sandy shores of Nantucket to the volcanic paths in Maui, according to the magazine these bike trails range from easy to exhilarating, but all reward with sweeping views of the water.
"Presque Isle peninsula curls protectively around Erie, Pennsylvania, on the north shore of Lake Erie. A 13.5-mile trail around the park offers lots of picnic areas and other enticing places to rest. Flocks of migrating birds (shorebirds in April) make spring a wonderful time to visit."

With 10 issues published each year, Coastal Living introduces readers to homes, destinations, activities, and people along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf shores of North America. Hawaii, Alaska, coastal Canada and Mexico, as well as the multi-national Caribbean islands and U.S. Great Lakes, are included in our scope.

Foto Friday: Seven Tips for Photographing Small Animals

The big animals get all the press: lions in Africa, polar bears in the Arctic, elk in Yellowstone. There are also the “celebrity” subjects such as penguins and rainforest tree frogs. There is no question that these are all wonderful subjects, great fun to photograph, and we enjoy seeing photos of them.

But nature is a whole lot more than these animals. These are largely small creatures, and you don’t have to travel around the world to photograph them. There are many salamanders, frogs, toads and snakes in even small natural areas around us. Lots of great insects can even be found in your garden.

The natural world offers a lot of benefits for us, from stunning beauty to very real ecological services, including better air and water. The little animals are often strong indicators of how well an ecosystem is doing. So if you are finding a lot of them, that is a good thing and an indicator of biodiversity.

These creatures often have fantastic forms and colors that are revealed when you get up close. Plus, you learn a lot of skills about wildlife photography in general if you search out the not-so-publicized wild neighbors of the natural areas around us. Here are some tips to get you started:

You don’t have to have a macro lens. Many compact digital cameras have close-up settings that let you get very close indeed. With digital SLRs, an extension tube can help any and all of your lenses focus in on very small subjects.

Watch the light. It is very easy to get distracted by a wonderful subject in the viewfinder or LCD and see it rather than the light. The camera will see the light. Look for light that helps your subject stand out from its surroundings.

Look for contrasts. A contrast in brightness or color between your subject and its surroundings will help emphasize the subject.

Try limiting your depth of field or sharpness. Use a telephoto setting and a wide aperture such as f/2.8, f/4 or f/5.6 to keep your subject in focus while blurring its surroundings.

Change your ISO setting. A lot of little critters live in the shade. You need a high ISO setting so that you can shoot with a faster shutter speed. That will help keep your photos sharp.

Learn about the small critters so you know where they live. Programs with naturalists at parks or nature guidebooks can help you find your subjects.

Be alert. Sometimes you find subjects just by sitting or walking through an area slowly. Stay alert to movement, small sounds or changes in patterns of color and tones on the ground, around plants, and beside rocks and logs.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

Potato Pancakes

Inspired by Erie's Russian Festival after eating some delicious potato pancakes on Friday, I decided to try my hand at making some this weekend. I found a simple recipe online and went to town.

 

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes
1 yellow onion (I used half a vidalia onion)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
2-4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
ground black pepper to taste
vegetable oil for frying

 

Directions:

1. Finely grate potatoes with onion into a large bowl. Drain off any excess liquid.
2. Mix in egg, salt, and black pepper. Add enough flour to make mixture thick, about 2 to 4 tablespoons all together.
3. Turn oven to low, about 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
4. Heat 1/4 inch oil in the bottom of a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Drop two or three 1/4 cup mounds into hot oil, and flatten to make 1/2 inch thick pancakes. Fry, turning once, until golden brown. Transfer to paper towel lined plates to drain, and keep warm in low oven until serving time. Repeat until all potato mixture is used.

 

The thing I loved the most about the Russian Fest's pancakes was the dill butter they placed on top. So I made my own compound butter will lots of dill and a pinch of salt in salted butter. Mmm!

 

Crispy, salty, and simple ingredients. Definitely a recipe to have an hand to switch up your normal starch side dish.

Wild Wednesday: Endangered Right Whales

Fifty-seven endangered North Atlantic right whales have been spotted off the coast of Rhode Island.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said one of its aerial whale research teams saw the whales, including four mother and calf pairs, on April 22 in Rhode Island Sound. They had also seen 101 of the whales off Massachusetts the week prior.

Scientists say there were different whales in each spot, and a NOAA spokeswoman says that means they saw more than one third of the known population of 400 to 450 North Atlantic right whales off Southern New England within the space of a week.

NOAA says the whales were actively surface feeding as they made their way north for the summer