Featured image: Piper in action at the Cherry Capital Airport (photo credit Great Big Story) Birds and airplanes aren't compatible. If a bird collides with a plane when the plane is on the runway or taking off, the results can be devastating. A bird sucked into a plane's engine kills the bird and could cause … Continue reading Dog protects airplanes from bird strikes

Photos by Cheryl Landes Updated November 21, 2018 For two weeks in December, a historic Victorian mansion near the Portland International Raceway dresses in festive decorations and opens to the public. This Miracle of a Million Lights at the Victorian Belle, 1441 McClellan Street, lives up to its name as one million colored lights adorn … Continue reading Miracle of a Million Lights in Portland delights all ages

Featured photo credit: Boston Caroling Mob This is a short-notice post, because I just learned about it. Today, at 4-6 p.m., more than 100 volunteer carolers will gather at the Jackson Street T (subway) station on the Orange Line in Boston to sing in the neighborhood. If the weather conditions are terrible, they'll sing in … Continue reading Sing, support Puerto Rico hurricane victims today with the Boston Caroling Mob

Featured image: A sea lion rests on a dock. (photo by Cheryl Landes) Update on December 25, 2017: The cove is open again. Park officials advise all swimmers that marine mammals are wild animals in their natural habitat. If you see any while swimming, allow plenty of space. Never approach a wild animal! ------------------------------------------------- In … Continue reading Popular San Francisco swimming cove closed after marine mammal attacks

Featured image: A view of Mount St. Helens National Monument from the air (photo by Cheryl Landes) On Tuesday, the National Park Service released the 2018 schedule for free entrance to national parks and recreation areas that charge fees. The number of days are dropping from 10 to four: Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther … Continue reading National Park Service reduces free entrance days for 2018

Featured image: Skiers on Wachusett Mountain Photos courtesy of Wachusett Mountain According to a report in Friday's issue of the Worcester Business Journal, the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, Massachusetts, plans to open all trails and lifts for skiing by Monday. I checked the ski area's website today, and five of the eight lifts … Continue reading Wachusett Mountain plans to open all ski trails and lifts by Monday, December 18

Featured image: New England Brass Band (photo credit: New England Brass Band) The New England Brass Band performs its last holiday concert of the season today, 7-9 p.m., at the Andover Free Christian Church at 31 Elm Street in Andover, Massachusetts. The 30-piece band, founded in 1988, performs in the British brass band style. Since … Continue reading Free brass holiday concert tonight in Andover, Massachusetts

Photos by Cheryl Landes Since 1929, residents of Peacock Lane in southeast Portland have decorated their homes and yards with hundreds of colored lights and elaborate holiday displays of Nativity scenes, snowmen and women, Santa in a sleigh, and Christmas villages. The tradition returned December 15 and ends New Year’s Eve. Many Portlanders consider Peacock Lane … Continue reading Historic Peacock Lane’s lighted holiday displays begin tonight, end New Year’s Eve in Portland

Featured image: Tables set for Thanksgiving dinner (photo by Cheryl Landes) If you're prefer stuffing yourself over stuffing the turkey, the Oregonian has compiled a long list of restaurants open in Portland on Thanksgiving Day to choose from. Some require reservations, so check on availability before showing up. On the north side of the Columbia … Continue reading Don’t want to cook on Thanksgiving? Portland-Vancouver restaurants got you covered.

Featured image: A view from Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine (photo by Cheryl Landes) This is the third year of REI's #OptOutside campaign, which encourages us to replace shopping on the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) with exploring the outdoors. This year, more states are joining the campaign by offering free … Continue reading Get outside on Black Friday with free state parks admission, events