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Articles by Gary Snyder
9th Annual HIV Awareness Walk
Erie County Department of Health The Erie County HIV Task Force held the 9th Annual HIV/AIDS Awareness Walk on Monday, May 18th, 2026, in Perry Square, downtown Erie. Participants at the event enjoyed educational materials on testing opportunities with the Erie County Department of Health. The HIV/AIDS walk reminds the local community that making personal health a priority is everyone's right.
Community Spotlight: Erie County HIV Task Force
by Gary Snyder and Bobbie Fenno Erie County HIV Task Force hosted the 8th Annual HIV/AIDS Awarenbess Walk on May 19, 2025. Since the earliest days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Erie County has been directly impacted. The first local case was reported in December 1986, and by then, those diagnosed nationwide were surviving an average of just 15 months. Over the years, a number of support and advocacy groups have worked to raise awareness, support those living with HIV, and fight stigma.
World AIDS Day Program Hosted by Erie County HIV Task Force
From Erie County HIV Task Force On Thursday, December 1, 2022, the Erie County HIV Task Force [ECHTF] presented this year’s World AIDS Day program at the H.O. Hirt Auditorium inside the Blasco Public Library at 160 East Front Street, Erie, PA 16507. Speakers included City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember, Erie County staff member Gary Snyder, Adagio Health staff member Andi Fair, Community Health Net staff member Kelly Kruize, and PA Thrive Partnership staff member Sonny Concepcion.
5th Annual HIV Awareness Walk
Gary Snyder, HIV Prevention, Erie County Department of Health On Saturday May 21, 2022, the Erie County HIV Task Force held the 5th Annual HIV / AIDS Awareness Walk. The Erie County HIV Task Force is a collaboration of local organizations and individuals dedicated to educating, supporting, and advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventing the spread of infection. The HIV / AIDS walk provides a reminder to the local community that making personal health a priority is everyone's right.
40 Years of HIV Progress Recognized on World AIDS Day
On Wednesday, December 1, the Erie County HIV Task Force presented the 2021 World AIDS Day Memorial observance program at the H.O. Hirt Auditorim in the Blasco Public Library at 160 E Front St, Erie PA. The program included pre-recorded video segments by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, and others.
Drenched Fur Turnout is a SPLASHING Success!
Check out www.DrenchedFur.Com for current info! By Gary Snyder, aka Gar-Bear Well the weekend has come and gone and it's back to life as I once knew it before the fur invasion began. Despite the blasted snowstorm that blanketed Erie and the surrounding areas with lots of thick white stuff that weekend, luckily everyone was able to get home and stay safe. Now that time has marched on and we've had the opportunity to get some perspective we're very pleased with the way the weekend went overall.
Drenched Fur 16 Wonderland Awaits in 2022
by Gary Snyder A year ago we were unaware of the COVID-19 pandemic that would turn things upside down and inside out. As the world begins to see advances in vaccines improving public health, the safety and welfare of our event attendees continues to be the primary driver of our decision making processes. Many events have adjusted in various ways and Drenched Fur is not much different. The coming months will be critical for the future of social events.
Snyder: Agriculture is essential for a fruitful future
This year’s WSTFA Annual Meeting and NW Hort Expo is going to a virtual platform. Snyder: Agriculture is essential for a fruitful future Good Fruit Grower // Nov 2, 2020 The year 2020 has been a year like no other, and we hope we never see another one like it! We are fortunate that our industry was recognized as essential and that our businesses have been able to stay open. Low cash flow is better than no cash flow.
The Nature of Gary Snyder
Robert Hass The Paris Review September 14, 2020 Where to begin? I am sitting at a desk, looking at a first edition ofGary Snyder’sThe Practice of the Wild, and looking out the window at San Francisco Bay. San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the West Coast of the North American continent.
The Nature of Gary Snyder
By Robert Hass September 10, 2020 Arts & Culture Where to begin? I am sitting at a desk, looking at a first edition of Gary Snyder’s The Practice of the Wild, and looking out the window at San Francisco Bay. San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the West Coast of the North American continent.
MSM vs COVID-19
by Gary Snyder, HIV Disease Intervention Specialist at the Erie County Department of Health Here we are amid the COVID-19 Pandemic with how we interact having vastly changed. But what about our hookup behaviors? Well, that gets a little tricky now doesn't it. For MSMs [Men having Sex with Men], physical interactions provide many benefits; chief of which is stress release. Sex gives us a rush of hormones. Testosterone increases libido while norepinephrine keeps us alert.
Drenched Fur 16 is a Wonderland Adventure
by Gary Snyder It's the sixteenth installment of Drenched Fur here in Erie, PA for enjoyable series of events with their theme, Bears in Wonderland, during the weekend of April 2nd thru 5th, 2020. The weekend of activities for the bear community and its friends is not sold out for full weekend packages. If you're local or from a distance, an adventure in wonderland awaits you.
World AIDS Day Recognition Program on December 2
from Erie County HIV Task Force On Monday, December 2, the Erie County HIV Task Force presented a program for World AIDS Day at Blasco Public Library, 160 East Front Str, Erie PA. Joy Henry, Disease Intervention Specialist Chair for Erie County Department of Health served as moderator. Erie City Mayor Joe Schember spoke about HIV effects.
Erie County HIV Task Force Bus Shelter Ad Campaign
from Lisa Szymanski BSN, RN | Public Health Nurse The Erie County HIV Task Force is excited to announce a bus shelter and bus ad campaign sponsored by the Erie County Department of Health. These ads offer information about HIV and STD prevention strategies happening in our community: (1) promotion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), (2) FREE condoms, and (3) FREE testing sites in our community. The ads will be up through the end of August and link to Erie County HIV Task Force website: echiv.org.
Drenched Fur 15: A Groovy Good Time
by Gary Snyder It's the fifteenth installment of Drenched Fur here in Erie, PA during the weekend of April 11th thru 14th, 2019. This year's theme is a fun twist on the 50th anniversary of the cultural event in Woodstock NY we've dubbed WOOFstock as tie-dye hip fun invades the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel. The weekend of activities for the bear community and its friends has full weekend packages available for just $155 per person. PLUS there are individual events available for ala carte pricing/choices.
World AIDS Day Observance Held at Blasco Public Library by Erie County HIV Task Force
World AIDS Day Observance Held at Blasco Public Library by Erie County HIV Task Force On Monday, December 3, Erie County HIV Task Force presented a World AIDS Day observance at Blasco Public Library, 160 E Front St, Erie PA. Speakers included Erie City Mayor Joe Schember, Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, NW PA Rural AIDS Alliance staff member Sonny Concepcion , Community Health Net Ryan White program director Emily Crofoot, and Jim, a local man living with HIV for 36 years.
Erie County HIV Task Force Billboard Campaign
from Lisa Szymanski BSN, RN | Public Health Nurse As a member of the Erie County HIV Task Force, I can think of no better time to talk about HIV prevention than as World AIDS Day approaches. The theme for World AIDS Day this year is "Know Your Status"! The task force is a collaboration of local organizations and individuals dedicated to educating, supporting, and advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventing the spread of infection.
2nd Annual HIV Awareness Walk
On Monday, September 10, 2018, participants marched in the Erie County HIV Task Force's second annual HIV Awareness Walk, which was held in Frontier Park, Erie PA. The Task Force is a coalition of groups involved in HIV/AIDS services. Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/eriecountyhivtaskforce/
Drenched Fur 14 recap
from Gary Snyder/Drenched Fur This April 12-15, once again the Erie community was host for the exclusive Bear Weekend known as Drenched Fur (DF). It was the fourteenth time the 'Best Little Run for Fun' created a weekend vacation where hundreds of men came from places like Canada, California, Iowa, and around the tri-state area. Drenched Fur is a weekend where men who appreciate each other and their natural masculinity can let off some winter doldrums.
Drenched Fur 10
from Gary Snyder In early April, the city of Erie hosted the Exclusive Bear Weekend known as Drenched Fur. This was the tenth annual bear run that brought together over 250 men from around the tri-state region and across the nation from Florida, Texas, California, and Canada. The attendees enjoyed the various events that incorporated the pirates theme held primarily at the Clarion Lake Erie and Bel-Aire Conference Center.
Erie County HIV Task Force hosts HIV Awareness Walk
On Monday, July 31, 2017, Erie County HIV Task Force hosted an HIV Awareness Walk. The event was attended by about 30 people and stepped off from the parking lot of the Erie Bayfront Convention Center, 2 Sassafras Pier, Erie PA, to the Bicentennial Tower at the foot of Dobbins Landing and back. The event included kids and people with their dogs. Everyone had a great time! Also view photos here. Powered by flickr embed.
Drenched Fur 12 scores big
Drenched Fur 12 scores big by Gary Snyder During the second weekend of April, once again the Erie community hosted Erie's exclusive Bear Weekend known as Drenched Fur. This time the 'Best Little Run for Fun' brought together hundreds of men hailing from around the tri-state area and as far away as Chicago, San Francisco, DC, and Toronto. Erie has been annual hosting Drenched Fur for twelve years allowing men to appreciate each other and their natural masculinity.
DF13 Tastes Forbidden Fruit, Again
DF13 Tastes Forbidden Fruit, Again from DF 13 Leading into April this year (March 30-April 2), the Erie community was home once again for the Exclusive Bear Weekend known as Drenched Fur. It was the thirteenth time the ‘Best Little Run for Fun' created a space where hundreds of men coming from the likes of Canada, California, Florida, Texas, and around the tri-state area.
World AIDS Day Program at Blasco Public Library by Erie County HIV Task Force
On Friday, December 1, 2017, Erie County HIV Task Force had a presentation for World AIDS Day at the Blasco Public Library, 160 E Front St, Erie PA. The event included a display of AIDS quilt panels and HIV display cases created by a LECOM intern. Speakers included Erie County Department of Health CHES/Disease Investigation Specialist Laura Beckes, Erie County Department of Health Director Melissa C Lyon, Sonny Concepcion of NW PA Rural AIDS Alliance, and Miriam Pastor, a woman living with HIV.
Erie County HIV TASK Force World AIDS Day presentation at Blasco Public Library
On Thursday, December 1, 2016, Erie County HIV Task Force had a presentation for World AIDS Day at the Blasco Public Library, 160 E Front St, Erie PA. The event included a display of AIDS quilt panels and other HIV-related art work. Speakers included Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, Laura Beckes and Sylvia Holland of Erie County Department of Health, and Maria, a woman living with HIV. There was local media coverage by both TV news crews and Erie Times-News.
Bears Do Dinner at Sneaky Pete's
Bears Do Dinner at Sneaky Pete's About 12 guys enjoyed dinner and friendly conversation at the monthly Bears Do Dinner at Sneaky Pete's, 6116 Swanville Rd, Erie PA, on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. Bears Do Dinner is held at a different eatery every month. Dinner is on your own. Dates and locations are announced in the EGN calendar. Also view photos here. Powered by flickr embed.
Drenched Fur 14 is Hitting the Outer Limits
Drenched Fur 14 is Hitting the Outer Limits by Gary Snyder It's the fourteenth installment of Drenched Fur here in Erie, PA for enjoyable series of events with their theme, Bears in Space, during the weekend of April 12th thru 15th, 2018. The weekend of activities for the bear community and its friends is sold out for full weekend packages. YET there are individual events available for ala carte pricing/choices. For information about these events visit www.drenchedfur.com. Contact: Gary Snyder.
Ready or Not: Paper Tiger to Open With Free Concerts
Ready or Not: Paper Tiger to Open With Free Concerts Thinking of heading to Austin for the South by Southwest music festival next weekend? The Paper Tiger, formerly the White Rabbit, may give you pause. The venue is inviting locals to celebrate its opening with a weekend of free music March 20-22 at its 2410 N. St. Mary’s St. location.
Poet Gary Snyder Coming to Trinity
Pulitzer prize-winning Poet Gary Snyder will appear at Trinity University Wednesday evening for an on-stage conversation with South African writer and literary scholar Julia Martin, who has engaged him in such exchanges since she was a graduate student in the 1980s.
Drenched Fur III - Third time's a charm
by Gary Snyder Who knew that Drenched Fur would make it this far? Looking back on the previous two years and the work we put into making this run and its legacy, it reminds us of the old ad slogan "You've come a long way baby." From the humble beginning where we wished for maybe 20 guys who would like to get together, to this year's record breaking registrant numbers (120+), it just keeps getting better each year.
Underfoot Earth Turns
Image: Tom Killion 1. Not the True Way May 11, 1996 “If a path that can be followed is not the true path, why do Bears shit right on the trail?” — M.G. Standing on the stream-smooth rocks in the bed of Redwood Creek, the water’s not that deep, and I begin to blow the conch, then chant the “Heart of the Perfection of Great Wisdom Sutra” in both Zen-Japanese and Americano, plus some other old magic chants in no known language, while more conch-blowers join in.
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