Thanksgiving Safety

Cooking-related fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and 47% of them start as the result of cooking equipment left unattended, according to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). "Never leave a burner unattended for more than a couple minutes" sounds like an easy rule to follow but is more challenging in practice as distractions arise.
Mountain View Fire and Rescue suggests setting a timer when you walk away from the range. It not only alerts you when food is ready; it also helps ensure you return to the stovetop before too long after a distraction. A few other tips:

Keep smoke alarms in good working order.
Clean and maintain vents, stovetops, countertops, and oven interiors.
Keep combustible items such as wooden spoons, rags, oven mitts, and loose paper several feet away from the stovetop and oven to prevent these items from starting a fire.
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Pay close attention when cooking with oil or grease.

For more information, visit www.nfpa.org/Public-Education. Are you interested in kids' fire safety? Visit www.Sparky.org for activities, videos, lessons, and games.

Parade of Lights

The Erie Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to this years' annual Parade of Lights! Join in for a dazzling parade as it travels through Downtown Erie (Briggs and Moffat streets) on Dec. 3. Come early for choir singing, free carriage rides, visits with Santa at 5 p.m., and stay for the parade, leaving Maxwell Street towards Briggs at 6:30 p.m. Watch for the Erie Police cars both leading and finishing the parade and be sure to say ‘hi’ to officers during the event. For more, visit the Chamber of Commerce webpage.

Operation Santa

The Optimist Club of Erie is again inviting residents of Erie to participant in 'Operation Santa'. Giving Trees are located throughout Erie, including the Erie Police Department (1000 Telleen) and the Erie Community Center (450 Powers Street). Children's names and wishes are displayed on an ornament for you to take and return with a package by Dec. 14. For more information, please contact Bea Lease at 720-900-8817 or leasebea@gmail.com.

Indigenous Peoples' Month

November is Indigenous Peoples' Month. In recognition, the Native Land Digital group created a tool that displays approximate historical territories of different sovereign Indigenous nations across the globe—not just the United States! The tool has the option to add map labels, so you can see that Erie is in the land of the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations. Can you find your hometown and identify the sovereign tribes from the area? You can access the mapping tool here.

Shop Small Saturday

Small Business Saturday (Saturday, Nov. 27) is a day dedicated to supporting local small businesses and strengthening and celebrating communities across the country. It serves as the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. The Economic Development Department and Erie Chamber recognize the importance of supporting small businesses, the jobs they help create, and the culture they instill in local communities.

Why go out of Erie for your holiday shopping when you can shop right here in town? Join the movement and support as many businesses in the community as possible, and remember that when you Shop Small, you Shop Local – making sure the money you spend in Erie stays in Erie. Look for a participating business list soon. To sign up, visit https://eriechamber.org/calendar-of-events/shop-small.