There's less than a month before school starts, so enjoy summer in Erie while it lasts

As July winds down, summer seems to be quickly slipping away.

Can it really be the final day of July? Where has the summer gone? Football players are returning to their colleges or professional teams, and some stores have even started putting up Halloween decorations.

Kids will begin returning to school in less than a month, which will officially mark the end of summer. One rising eighth-grader recently told me she can’t wait to return to classes, which was not the way I felt back in the day.

My mother almost had to call in the National Guard to get me into the house on the night before the first day of school, but it doesn’t seem kids feel that way anymore.

If you can go by recent years, at least Erie should have decent summer weather through the month of September, which seems much milder now than it once was.

● Work is proceeding at a rapid clip at Fred Biletnikoff Field at Erie High School. More than $5 million will be spent on the conversion of the field into a multi-purpose facility. State-of-the-art turf will replace the grass on the field, which has already been removed.

I wish somebody had called me to haul away some of that old grass. It looked much nicer than what we’re growing in our yard.

Biletnikoff, through old friends like Ed Kissell, keeps tabs on the work taking place at the field. He seems proud of the plans for the new field, track, bleachers, and all of the other amenities.

Field upgrades: What will Biletnikoff Field improvements bring to Erie High?

● When we recently spent a beautiful afternoon at Beach 10 at Presque Isle, I was impressed with the quality of the sand. It was thick and white, and everyone seemed to be having a great time at the beach. As you walked along the shoreline, you could pick up snatches of joyful conversation in at least a half-dozen foreign languages.

● Because former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign still owes quite a bit of money for unpaid bills in Erie, it was kiddingly suggested by one local political watcher that police should have put a boot on one of the tires of Trump’s limousine for his Saturday visit.

Erie mayor: City will again seek reimbursement from Trump campaign for rally

● When the Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan, introduced longtime Erieite Monsignor Ed Lohse last week as its new bishop, a large contingent of Erie friends and priests were on hand. It was another bit of proof of how popular Lohse had been here.

● When Matt Balis surprisingly submitted his resignation as Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning coach, Fred Hale was appointed by head coach Marcus Freeman to the post. Hale, who grew up in Mentor, Ohio, was an excellent football player and all-around athlete at Mercyhurst College.

Hale has served for several years on Notre Dame’s football staff, but it was a big surprise when Balis suddenly quit. It sounds like Hale’s appointment might not yet be permanent, but I recall that he had a winning attitude and the respect of his teammates during his years in Erie.

● Longtime Gannon University professor Steven Ropski, Ph.D, will give a lecture Tuesday at the Jefferson Educational Society on the grizzly bears of Yellowstone National Park. Ropski is an expert on bears, and he’ll also provide a bit of history of Yellowstone.

● Thank goodness we don’t see too many bears roaming the neighborhood around Erie, but I can’t believe the high number of deer that have been touring the city and suburbs. While walking our dog last week at the playground behind J.S. Wilson School, two large deer suddenly appeared. They didn’t leave when they spotted us, either.

Our dog, which had stated barking when she saw the deer emerge from behind a clump of trees, suddenly clammed up. She took a look at the size of the deer and wanted to get out of there, pronto.

● This is the season for high school reunions, and Judy Trott Boboshko sends word that Academy High School’s Class of 1963 will celebrate its 60th reunion Aug. 18-19. Judy says if anyone has any questions, they can call her at 814-899-0748.

Another big reunion of East High graduates of 1962 and ’63 will meet for a three-day celebration Aug. 18-20. Members of those classes can reach out to Linda at lafpete@roadrunner.com, to Carole at stoff4793@aol.com, or to Jeff at ben.velvl@gmail.com.

● A large gathering turned out in Millcreek recently for an auction hosted by Doug Chesley and his team. Doug, who’s been in the business for more than 50 years, says he’s ready to turn the company over to his daughter, Katie Chesley, who at 24 is an excellent auctioneer.

● Ask John Baker to see the amazing photographs he took several years ago during the renovations of St. Patrick Catholic Church. An excellent photographer, Baker has taken hundreds of great pictures of the Flagship Niagara and other sites on Lake Erie.

Kevin Cuneo can be reached at kevin.cuneo1944@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Summer is fading fast in Erie, PA. How long will warm weather last?