TIME MARCHES ON, so it's only natural that Pittsburgh's age of the dinosaurs would come to an end. They were not real dinosaurs -- not like the county row offices -- but the fanciful re-creations of dinosaur-inspired artists. For four months, the herd of 100 DinoMite Days dinosaurs brightened many parts of the region as a fund-raising venture for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, which, of course, is renowned for its dinosaur bone collection. The dinosaurs have been auctioned off to raise money for renovation of the museum's Dinosaur Hall as well as charities. Some of the bidding came Oct. 18 when the DinoMite Days Gala was held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Others were bought during a monthlong online auction, which ends today. Pittsburgh will miss these wonderful creatures. Indeed, nothing like it has been seen around here since prehistoric times.

ON THE SUBJECT of things Carnegie, we welcome the new director of the Science Center, Joanna Haas. Tomorrow will be her first day on the job. Ms. Haas, 36, was formerly director of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. She was selected after a yearlong search after director Seddon Bennington returned to his native New Zealand to head a museum. A word to the wise: New people always bring in new ideas, but we hope that Ms. Haas appreciates the miniature railroad and village. In truth, it is more about nostalgia than about science, but it remains a seasonal favorite for Pittsburghers, who remember the layout in the basement of the old Buhl Planeterium. In various forms, we like our dinosaurs around here.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY Council struck a blow for the younger generation last month when, at the urging of council member Bill Robinson, it approved a nonbinding resolution urging Congress to lower the voting age to 17. But it also struck a blow against common sense -- as some of its members realized -- because this was not a relevant subject for local government and thus a waste of time to discuss. It would take an amendment to the Constitution to grant the franchise to 17-year-olds. And would they vote anyway? Seniors are famously the ones who come in large numbers to the polls. Be that as it may, Mr. Robinson, 61, was an odd person to be urging a break for the young. His 14-year tenure in the state Legislature came to an end last year when, painted as a political dinosaur, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by a young opponent, Jake Wheatley, who, while no teenager, was about half his age.

THERE'S NO STARKER evidence of the change in the air than at PPG Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh, where the Christmas tree now stands tall. Only a few weeks ago children were frolicking in the fountain at this very spot, but now the ice rink is being prepared in its place. Though it was still October, erecting the tree was understandable as a matter of practicality. It stands in the middle of the space atop the plinth known affectionately as the Tomb of the Unknown Bowler, which is now transformed into a beacon of good cheer for young and old. Only a dinosaur could object.