In front of snow plows and a 600-ton mound of salt on Monday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu thanked city employees, especially first responders and those directly in charge of public works, for their efforts in laying the groundwork for a safe winter.

“Boston is ready,” Wu said at a press conference. “We know that winter can be quite unpredictable these days. Here in our city, you have to be ready for a major snowstorm, or you have to be ready for flooding at any moment’s notice.”

The mayor said the city prepares months in anticipation of snow and extreme cold weather. The city has approximately 32,000 tons of salt and 175 pieces of snow-clearing equipment, as well as 800 additional pieces from contractors ready, for deployment if necessary.

She advised Bostonians to be aware of those around them and to assist anyone who may appear disoriented or not dressed for the weather.

Nick Gove, Boston’s interim chief of streets, said the roadway treatments have already been launched to ensure road safety for all Bostonians traveling during the cold and icy winter ahead.

“Winter weather pulls our employees away from the regular jobs and their families,” Gove said. “We work long hours, often in the middle of the night, to keep our roadways safe and clear. The city is very fortunate to have a dedicated, highly skilled and experienced team to do this work.”

He also asked residents to be patient in the case of extreme weather, as plows get to main roads first and then to others as fast as possible. Bostonians are also in charge of cleaning sidewalks.

“Snow and ice season is a team effort,” Gove said at the press conference. “The city of Boston is ready for whatever winter brings.”

Matthew Kearney, deputy chief of emergency management, advised residents to sign up for AlertBoston, a service which provides information on emergency conditions.

Housing and heat are also crucial during the cold winter months, said Tania Del Rio, commissioners of the inspectional services department, and Sheila Dillon, chief of housing.

Del Rio reminded tenants and property owners to ensure their heating systems are working properly and set to the required temperatures.

She also advised Bostonians to never use grills, stoves, or other devices for indoor heating, and ensure that exterior vents are clear of snow.

Cold temperatures also put vulnerable populations at risk. Additional services and housing is available for homeless individuals to keep them out of the cold.

“Our shelter system has 1,250 beds and spaces available for our homeless individuals, and to add additional capacity, many of our local shelters have added approximately 150 additional beds and spaces for cold and nights where the weather is bad and we expect larger population to use them,” Dillion said.

Brianna Millor, chief of community engagement, said neighborhood liaisons make calls to local organizations, such as senior centers and non-profit organizations, to make them aware of the services the city provides. She encouraged residents to contact their liaison or the 311 line if they need support or notice damage due to extreme weather, yet she asked for patience in case of winter weather.

“Boston, you know the drill,” she said.

Katarina Schmeiszer can be reached at katarina.schmeiszer@globe.com. Follow her on X at @katschmeiszer.

The holiday spirit is upon us, but so is the pressure to spend. Fret not, there are several cost-conscious, merry-making activities and events throughout the city. This week includes two seasonal symphonic evenings, opportunities for hands-on artistic expressions, and a winter workout that hits the pavement — while on two wheels. Here are some no-cost events and ways to save across Greater Boston and beyond for the week of Dec. 8-14.

YULETIDE TUNES The New England Conservatory presents a family-friendly concert of Christmas classics, performed by the NEC’s Chamber Singers and Symphonic Winds groups, alongside the Rhode Island-based Navy Band Northeast. The program includes recognizable classics like “Christmas Time Is Here” and “Winter Wonderland.” Attendees are encouraged to test their caroling know-how during the concert’s sing-along segment, so it’s time to brush up on favorites like “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Silent Night.” Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. RSVP required. Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St. necmusic.edu

DOODLES AT THE GALLERY The Institute of Contemporary Art’s Neighborhood Night offers free admission to all guests starting at 5 p.m. Throughout the evening, attendees can join two drop-in drawing workshops — one model, one portrait. At 7 p.m., join a guided gallery tour of Zimbabwean artist Portia Zvavahera’s exhibition, or visit the museum’s on-display exhibitions at any time. Dec. 11, 5-9 p.m. Institute of Contemporary Art, 25 Harbor Shore Drive. icaboston.org

GAMES AND GINGERBREAD Get a little competitive — in a cheery, spirited way, of course — at BAMS Fest’s holiday game night, featuring a wide variety of board and tabletop games available throughout the Roundhead Brewing taproom. In addition to Jenga, Uno, and checkers, attendees can find a gingerbread house-making station with building materials provided while supplies last. DJ Kitz will play tunes throughout the night. Dec. 12, 7-11 p.m. Roundhead Brewing Company, 1 Westinghouse Plaza. bamsfest.org

YOUTH MUSIC The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert of holiday hits. The showcase features a string and wind ensemble made up of students from the BYSO’s Intensive Concert Program, which provides opportunities to young Bostonians from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in classical music. Dec. 13, 5 p.m. Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave. www.bysoweb.org/events

BIKE THE HALLS If you’ve ever wanted to fly through the skies on Santa’s sleigh, the annual Jingle Ride is maybe as close as you can get: The 18.5-mile bike ride, which traverses from Arlington to Boston and back, meets up at the Kickstand Café and takes off at 11 a.m. Riders are encouraged to dress up in Santa hats, antlers, or other festive fashion. Dec. 14, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Starts at Kickstand Café, 594 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington. ciclismoclassico.com

SWEEP-STEAKS The Aeronaut Brewing Company will host a Holiday Meat Raffle for cuts of meat from Savenor’s, a Cambridge butcher shop. Attendees get one raffle ticket for walking in, and are given a ticket for each donation of an unexpired, nonperishable food item, for up to five extra tickets. There are five baskets to win, each with vacuum-sealed cuts of meat (or pantry items, for the meatless prize). Dec. 13, 5-7 p.m. Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St., Somerville. aeronautbrewing.com

Check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.

Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to ryan.yau@globe.com.

Ryan Yau can be reached at ryan.yau@globe.com.

The discovery of an endangered whale sighted off the coast of Boston gave researchers an incredibly unique “tail” to tell.

Observers from the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) Right Whale Ecology Program spotted a North Atlantic right whale off Boston’s coast Nov. 19 while conducting an aerial survey, according to a CCS press release. What made this already rare sighting extraordinary was that the whale apparently traveled 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to get there.

“The first sighting of the year is always exciting, but we didn’t yet realize just how remarkable this one would turn out to be,” CCS researcher Ryan Schosberg said in the release.

Noting unique scarring on the right side of the whale’s head, researchers in the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life matched it to a whale that had been seen near Donegal Bay, Ireland, in July 2024, as reported by the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group.

“While the photos from the 2024 Ireland sighting showed some unique features, we were unsure the quality of the photos would be sufficient to identify the whale in the future,” said Lindsey Jones, a scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center. “After a flurry of matching effort and emails, we were excited to discover the first ever photo-ID match between Ireland and the U.S. East Coast.”

Though right whales have been seen traveling from the western Atlantic to the eastern Atlantic and back, the CCS said this appears to be the first documented case of a whale initially traveling east to west. This discovery has led researchers to believe that right whale habitats on the western side of the North Atlantic may still be suitable, according to the press release.

North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, with an estimated population of 384, according to the CCS. While sightings of whales from European waters happen every few years, these events are rarely photographed well enough to be compared to the New England Aquarium’s catalogued record.

“Securing any international photo ID matches of large whales requires a lot of effort and a fair bit of luck,” said Pádraig Whooley, sightings officer at the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group. “When these matches are made across ocean basins, you need to get even luckier. So, we had zero expectation of matching this solitary right whale from Donegal Bay in July 2024, the first validated Irish record with photographic evidence in over a century.”

Researchers investigated further and found catalog data showing that six more right whales first photographed along the North American coast have appeared in European waters, according to the CCS. Dr. Daniel Palacios, director of the Right Whale Ecology Program, said that the discovery shows how right whales have endured despite their endangered status.

“Seeing a whale photographed in Ireland reappear off Boston is extraordinary,” Palacios said. “Encounters like this highlight both their resilience and the importance of international cooperation to support their recovery.”