Latest news with #ThurstonClassic
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Erie County Library presents HistERIE Week as way to celebrate local history
History was alive and well for patrons at the Blasco Library on Friday. Patrons were greeted by historians dressed as colonists. St. George playground to become recreational park The interactive exhibits showcased the work of artisans from the 18th century. Friday marked the start of HistERIE Week, the Erie County Library's celebration of local history. Onward and upward — 35th annual Thurston Classic takes off in Crawford Co. Programs were planned with the history community partners each day at sites around the county. 'So there's gravestone cleaning at the soldiers and sailors museum, there's a historic bayfront biking tour happening this Saturday, just tons of things happening all week long,' said Alyssa Johnson, communications and outreach coordinator for the Erie County Public Library. The HistERIE celebration will run through Saturday, June 21, kicking off the start of the library's summer programming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Onward and upward — 35th annual Thurston Classic takes off in Crawford Co.
The 35th Annual Thurston Classic, a free hot air balloon event, is captivating the skies over Crawford County this weekend. The event, named after a Meadville family with a rich history in ballooning, features 22 balloons flown by some of the country's most skilled pilots. PI Boat Tours offers update on Lady Kate absence 'I've been flying for 39 years and as you witnessed here, I still get excited watching these balloons fly, it's just magical,' said Alex Jonard, the Balloonmeister of the Thurston Classic. Crowds from near and far are gathering in Crawford County to witness the spectacle of the Thurston Classic. The festival has been a staple in the community since 1988, drawing large audiences to enjoy the vibrant display of balloons. Pilots convened early Friday morning to discuss weather conditions and ensure safe flights. 'It's much different than flying a fixed wing; we can't really power through things,' Jonard explained, emphasizing the importance of clear visibility and favorable wind speeds. Among the balloons is 'Tiny the Fire Dog' from Virginia, piloted by Henry Rosenbaum. 'You'll see us lay it out on the ground here now, the basket gets hooked up, and we stretch the fabric out,' Rosenbaum described the preparation process. The balloon, weighing 400 pounds due to extra fabric, offers a unique flying experience. Lake City Fire Company welcomes community for annual carnival Rosenbaum, who has been flying for over 30 years, likens the experience to a magic carpet ride, offering a 360-degree view from heights of up to 1,000 feet. The Thurston Classic continues to enchant visitors with its colorful displays and skilled pilots, maintaining its status as a beloved community event in Meadville. For more information about the event, click here. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
St. George playground to become recreational park
Construction is underway to upgrade the playground behind Saint George Church into more of a park. The aging amenities behind Saint George School will be removed this summer. Onward and upward — 35th annual Thurston Classic takes off in Crawford Co. In its place, they're building a new playground, basketball and pickleball courts, and a new bocce ball court with plans to also build a large pavilion for public use. Father Brian Vossler said the bocce courts have been there for 50 years and see 120+ regular players. Lake City Fire Company welcomes community for annual carnival 'We're going to go all summer, probably sometime in the fall, we'll be completed with the project. We've been able to raise more than half of the money for it now, we're looking at probably three-quarters of a million dollars. We've been very good stewards of our funds,' said Vossler. 'It will still be high quality, yet we're being responsible with our funds.' Vossler said the old playground will be re-purposed and donated to a school on Erie's east side. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tail-wagging time: Tiny the Fire Dog fires up the Thurston Classic crowd
Tiny the Fire Dog was no foe to the flame on Thursday as the 105,000-cubic foot Dalmatian stood at attention in the sky for the 35th Annual Thurston Classic Joyce Stevens Memorial Night Glow. The floppy-eared puppy was full of fire, rightfully so as he symbolizes fire service and public safety. Tiny was front and center of the nine balloons for the night glow at Allegheny College's Robertson Athletic Complex, and he had quite a few admirers. The Anderson family was in the sea of hundreds who lined the field. In its 35 years, the Thurston Classic has gained a loyal following. Traveling all the way from Pittsburgh, Erin Anderson recalled her time watching the event as a child. 'I grew up on Doughty (Avenue) and we used to watch and enjoy it,' she said, remembering how she could see the balloons float over her house as she relaxed in the pool. Now, adorned in her Meadville sweatshirt, she brought her own children to see it. 'They were really excited to come down and see it,' she said, noting that they haven't really been old enough to remember it until now. Eliza, 6, said she was looking forward to seeing all the balloons: '100 percent — I love them.' She was on the lookout for her favorite colors — pink, purple and yellow — and twirled around, blowing bubbles with her little brother before the big event. 'She was telling — before we left Pittsburgh — everyone about how she was going to see hot air balloons,' Erin said. 'She was bragging because people were like, 'Where are the hot air balloons?' 'You have to go to Meadville to see it,'' she would reply. Each balloon takes a small crew of around four or five members to help the pilot, who inflates the balloon with cold air, then blasts hot air to make the balloon stand up. The process takes about 15 minutes and is a craft for balloon pilots. Coming from all over the country, the Thurston Classic is a favorite for pilots from all over. One balloon was left standing after the rest though: Daydreamer. Standing with its black bottom bellowing into a rainbow top, the balloon is the late Roger Miller's. Miller died just three weeks before the Thurston Classic, and as 'a special sendoff,' his balloon was kept inflated for about five minutes longer than the others, Balloonmeister Alex Jonard II said. Although the wind gave some of the balloons trouble, it was no match for the Daydreamer, which glowed above them all. 'There's not a dry eye, and there's an empty box of Kleenex here,' Jonard said. 'We appreciate the family letting us have the balloon here for a special tribute.' The weekend continues with a total of 21 balloons, taking an evening flight scheduled today, followed by morning and evening sanctioned races on Saturday and another race on Sunday morning.
