Current Erie City Councilman and Mayor-elect Joe Sinnott met with union represenative asking that their members pay 10 to 15 percent of their health care costs. After the laughter died down, they agreed to ask their members to vote on the measure. There might have been a chance of the unions agreeing to it if the city would agree to no more layoffs but Sinnott said that wasn’t possible. If they all were to agree to chip in for their healthcare, it would save the city about $1.5 million. The city must cut expenses and/or raise taxes by about $4-5 million to get a balanced budget for 2006. It’s hard to get a firm number of the exact total because Erie City Council added back more jobs that they had already agreed to cut which just adds to the problem.

Alexis Burton, a fifth grader at Our Lady of Mt Carmel School in Erie, was the Grand Prize winner of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s 2006 “Drug-Free” Calendar Contest. Alexis will receive a $500 US Savings Bond and will be honored during a luncheon at noon on Monday, Dec 19 in Harrisburg.

Beth Ann Namey joined the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley in 1998 as a trainee and was promoted during her first season. She received her early training in her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania at Lake Erie Ballet and The Robert Steele School of Ballet. The San Jose Mercury News had a small article which pointed out that her father, Dr Samuel Namey, will finally see her dance for the first time since she moved to the left coast. Beth Ann will perform the role of Czarina Tatianna (the Sugar Plum Fairy) in “The Nutcracker.” (Photo by John Gerbetz for the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley.)

Tom Ridge of Erie will be with co-keynote speaker along with Amit Yoran at the govNET Summit 2006 being held at the Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, WV, on April 9-11, 2006. The event bringings together CIOs and senior-level IT and e-Business executives from Federal and State governmental agencies.

The Erie Freeze of the American Indoor Football League announced the team’s first open tryout and player auditions for the upcoming 2006 AIFL season. The player auditions will be held at the Family First Sports Park located on 8155 Oliver Road in Erie, Pennsylvania today, Friday, December 16. Registration starts at 11 am. The cost of the tryout is $ 65 and can be paid only in cash or money order; no credit cards or checks. Interested players should contact Freeze owner David Hodas at (814) 454-0200.

Today Lindsey Fuhrman of Erie PA will be on the Tyra Banks Show. Watch it or record it. The show airs on WFXP Fox 66 on Friday at 4 pm. Four years ago, Lindsey received a heart transplant. On the show, she’ll meet the family of the girl that saved her life.

The Marine Corps Reserve Erie Toys For Tots program is asking for your help. Their goal this season is to make sure that every child in Northwestern Pennsylvania has a gift to open on Christmas. Please Help by Donating new, unwrapped toys at one of the designated drop off locations or at one of their events where you can help.

This is the 47th year the Lake Erie Ballet will present the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker.” Performances will be held at the Warner Theatre December 16th at 7 pm, 17th at 7 pm and 18th at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $15 to $30.

Michael Machuga of Erie is in third place of the PBA Empire State Classic. He lead the field after the first round.

The Mercyhurst College Men’s Hockey team is featured in an article on NHL.com. Every year the small school does more than hold their own against the monsters of Division I college hockey.

Desiree Thomas has signed a letter of intent to swim at Edinboro University. The senior at the Cleveland area high school of North Royalton holds the school record of 5:52.04 in the 500-yard freestyle.

The Erie Otters will wrap up the opening half of their 2005-2006 season this Friday and Saturday with a pair of home games against the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors and Windsor Spitfires respectively. Both games begin at 7:30 pm.