On this date in 1813, a US naval fleet under command of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a British squadron in the Battle of Lake Erie. The fleet consisted of the Brig Lawrence, Brig Niagara, Brig Caledonia, Schooner Ariel, Schooner Scorpion, Schooner Somers, Schooner Ohio, Schooner Tigress, Schooner Porcupine, and the Sloop Trippe. Six vessels in Perry’s Fleet, including the Brig Niagara were constructed in Erie PA. The battle itself was fought near Put-in-Bay, Ohio. After the victory, Commodore Perry wrote his famous report to General William Henry Harrison: ” We have met the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop.”
I wonder how many people realize that 10-15 percent of the American crew was African-American.

Richard Patton shot and killed a man then held police at bay for four hours. Patton was captured when he put down his weapon to reach for a phone police were handing him. The incident happened in the 1400 block of West 26 Street, just West of 26 and Browns Ave. Reports from WICU and WSEE.

It seems that FEMA is now in charge of the Gannon University web site. It’s not working. This is the second weekend in a row. Fix it already.

Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie was elected as an alternate delegate by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to attend the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist which will be held in October.

The 2005 Erie Firefighter Combat Challenge continues today in downtown Erie.

Today is the final day of the 2005 Waterford Community Fair. Admission is $3 per person with children 12 and under free.

The Erie Heritage Festival will be held September 10, 2005 from Noon – 9:30 pm. The event will be held at Liberty Park.

The 7th annual LEAF Festival, Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park Festival, is September 10 from 10am – 3pm. There will be music, children’s games and activities, tree climb, antique truck rides, environmental booths, horticultural lectures, scavenger hunt, food and more.

The 2005 Erie Airshow will be held on a Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11, 2005. The Air Show will be held at Erie International Airport, Tom Ridge Field. The schedule of performances and static display aircraft present will be the same each day, so you can attend either day and see the same great show. Gates will open each day at 10 am.

The Westminster Figure Skating Club of Erie will host two open houses in September to kick off its 48th season of skating. Skate for free at the JMC Ice Arena, 423 West 38th St, Erie, from 9:45 to 11:45 am on Sat, Sept 10 (ages 4 to 10) and from 6:45 to 8:15 pm on Tues, Sept 13 (ages 11 and up, including adults). Guests at the open houses can watch a performance and shop for used skates and skating clothes. New skaters can sign up for six weeks of introductory group lessons for the price of five weeks ($50). Small children just learning to skate must have a teen or adult skater helping on the ice. Skate rental is available.

The 2005 Erie Marathon will be held September 11. The start/finish is in the Rotary Pavilion Area (approximately 3 miles from the entrance to the park) and the course will consist of two complete loops of Presque Isle State Park. This marathon is quite possibly the flattest course in the country with no major elevation changes at all, total elevation change is 12 feet. It is certainly a Boston qualifier and has a course record prime to be broken. Those who expect a marathon time of greater than 5 hours will be required to start at 6:30 am with the rest of the field starting at 7:30 am. There will also be a 4-Person Marathon Relay, a Half Marathon and a 5K.

TREC, Therapeutic Riding of Erie County, will hold its 25th annual Barn Dance and Pig Roast today from 7-11 PM at the Willows Equestrian Center, Sterrettannia and Platz Rd Fairview. Food, games and music by Johnny Lambert and Full House. Tickets are $15. The event is open to the public.

Erie’s first Pagan Pride Day celebration will be held at St Nick’s Grove, 5131 Old French Road, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The event will include information booths, vendors, entertainers, children’s activities, rituals, and other activities celebrating the Autumn Equinox, a time of thanksgiving in many Pagan traditions.

There is an excellent feature article on Erie Cathedral Prep grad Charles Rush in the Centre Daily Times. Rush is the starting left guard on offense for Penn State. He has already has earned an Econ degree and is taking Masters classes.