A few things to move off my plate:
— One of the beneficiaries of federal stimulus package passed earlier this year is a Route 66 bicycle trail in Illinois. According to an Associated Press report, $25,000 in such funds will be used to build a four-way stop signal at an intersection for the Route 66 Bike Trail in Chenoa.
— The grand opening celebration of the Old Joliet Prison Park at 1125 Collins St. in Joliet, Ill., will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Events include the Blooze Brothers Band, child safety IDs by made by local police, free kids’ activities, plenty of food and drink, and free mug shots in front of the old prison. The whole shebang will be in the parking lot outside the prison.
— Frankoma Pottery in Sapulpa, Okla., announced a couple of new pieces. This year’s annual collectors plate was designed by Joniece Frank, daughter of Frankoma’s founder, John Frank. The theme of the plate is “A Miracle in God’s Hands” and shows the infant Jesus in God’s hands. Price will be $33.00. In addition, Frankoma released its first new nativity piece in several years. The nativity set was started in 2002 and the set grew to 15 pieces by 2004. This year, a shepherd is added. Both pieces can be seen on the front page of Frankoma’s Web site.
— Illinois Route 66 advocates John and Lenore Weiss will present their free “Route 66, Then & Now” program at the Wilmington Public Library in Wilmington, Ill., at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Weisses recently received the Route 66 Ambassadors award at the annual Illinois 66 banquet.
— The Crawford County Fair in Hood Park along Route 66 in Cuba, Mo., continues through Saturday. You can read about the fair’s long history — including the time a future president named Harry Truman visited — at the Viva Cuba blog.
— Jones Soda and Griffin Technology are sponsoring a photo contest for the best creative photos from people’s road trips. To participate, travelers must use the hashtag “#roadtripjones” in a social media update, including their destination or itinerary. Photos and videos can then be uploaded to the Jones Soda gallery at www.jonessoda.com/gallery and hashtagged through Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.