The Greater Erie Board of REALTORS released the Erie County property transfer report for October. For Oct 2006, 432 properties were exchanged for $47,279, 377. The Oct 2005 figures were 512 transactions for $61,760,628. This marks the fifth straight decline year-over-year. Year to date, the 2006 totals are down $29,904,788 and 280 transactions compared to 2005. Figures include all properties in Erie County in which a transfer tax was paid.  Currently the Greater Erie Board of REALTORS listings include 1415 residential, 598 land, 270 investment properties, and 401 commercial. The 2684 total listings should be more in the 1500 range this time of year.

Edward Scurry should be charged by the Erie County DA for endangering the welfare of children because his decision yesterday did exactly that. Scurry, an arbitrator, ruled in favor of Local 668 of the Service Employees International Union and against Erie County. The couny had previously released the names of Erie County Office of Children and Youth employees that were disciplined. Not any more. Those names of county employyes will be hidden from public view. Edward Scurry ruled that releasing the names was embarrassing to them. Well, no shit Sherlock. Children’s lives are at stake. If person that holds a government job is disciplined, their employer, the taxpayer, should know about it. Scurry is a Democratic State Committee member for Venango County and was an AFSME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) business agent.

The state deposited a $50 million payment from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs for their slot machine license. Track and non-track licensees will pay a $50 million fee up front to operate slots, while resort licensees will pay a $5 million fee. There are 14 gaming venues — seven of which are tracks, five are non-track parlors and two are resort-based locations. Slots licensees will pay 34 percent of their gross revenue to the state.

Photographer / Model Vadella Worrell has signed on as GMD Films newest Feature Director. Her first project, will begin shooting in January, 2007 and will be released under the GMD Films’ Adult / Erotica division Marie Madison Media. Vadella is known for her unique vision behind the camera as well as her truly original voice as a story teller. GMD Films Owner and Founder Paul Gorman comments. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Vadella on board, and I see this as a giant step toward the vision I have for the company in 2007. She’s the perfect addition to our roster of young, ambitious Director’s.” The as yet untitled film will be her first feature project and will be shot within the City of Erie, Pennsylvania, the home of GMD Films. GMD Films is a premiere independent film studio specializing in lower budget Horror, Action and Erotica films. Vadella Worrell joins GMD Films Director Marie Madison (“Smoke Junkies”, “The Agency”) and the Directing team of Paul Gorman and Steed Merrill (“Fury”, “House of Bedlam”).

The 54th annual Gannon University Model United Nations will be held Friday and Saturday, Nov 10-11. Some 500 students from more than 40 high schools are expected to participate in the two-day event. Gannon’s Model U N seeks to bring high school students together to address various current issues at the source of global tensions. The Model U N is also designed to help the students understand the complex nature of international affairs and the purpose and function of the United Nations. In preparation for the event at Gannon University, delegations of students from participating high schools are assigned country designations and are encouraged to begin studying the issues to be debated. Students also are expected to learn the viewpoints of the government of the country they are assigned to represent.

Friday night Erie area high school football scores:
Erie Mercyhurst Prep (10-0) 27 Cambridge Springs 6
Erie Cathedral Prep (9-1) 41 Butler 20
Erie Strong Vincent 34 Meadville 10
Oil City 51 Erie East 0
McDowell 35 Erie Central 0
General McLane 28 Titusville 26
North East 7 Northwestern 6 (OT)
Franklin 19 Corry 7
Greenville 20 Harbor Creek 9
Iroquois 29 Maplewood 0
Seneca 22 Eisenhower 8
Union City 6 Youngsville 0
Warren 27 Slippery Rock 23
Kennedy Catholic 41 Farrell 0
Conneaut Lake 24 Linesville 13
Saegertown 41 Conneaut Valley 7

Geoff Husted signed for another season with the Dakota Wizards of the CBA. He averaged 10.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last year. Husted, a 6-11, 265-pound post player is a grad of Gannon University.

Michael Swick made 27 saves for the shutout as the Sudbury Wolves beat the Erie Otters 6-0 in an Ontario Hockey League game played tonight in front of 4,728 at the Sudbury Arena. The Otters complete the Northern Ontario swing Sunday night when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie to face the Greyhounds. The game can be heard on 1330 Erie’s ESPN Radio and on-line at OttersHockey.com (presented by the James H. Cross Company) joined in progress immediately following Pittsburgh Steelers Football.

Basketball fans will get their first chance to see the new-look Gannon men’s basketball team today when the Golden Knights play an exhibition game at Division I St Bonaventure. Game time is scheduled for 4 pm. Live gameday audio can be heard on Jet Radio 1400 and via the Internet on the WERG stream. Cory Knight (Erie Cathedral Prep), Tyler Stoczynski (McDowell), Ron Hollis, Rob Broughton and Aurimus Truskauskas are the projected starters.

The students of Toni and Guy in Erie, 930 Peach Street, are holding a fund raiser on November 4 from 9 am – 4:30 pm called “Healing Hands for Hunger.” This event is to raise money and donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank. For every five pounds of food you bring in you get a free five minute chair massage, also for every $5 you donate you also will receive a five minute chair massage. ALL proceeds go to the Second Harvest Food Bank. All massages will be done by students that will be supervised by their instructors.

Waldameer Park and Water World will hold a 2 day preview from noon to 5 pm today and Sunday Nov 5 of their new 140 foot Tower Drop ride called the X Scream. A ride costs $2.50 with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network. All riders must be 48″ or taller to ride. Please use the Sixth and Eighth Street entrance to Rainbow Gardens.

The ExpERIEnce Erie Children’s Museum Super Saturday event today celebrates the day King Tutankhamun’s Tomb was opened. Children can make their own sarcophagus and write their name in hieroglyphics. This event is free with Museum admission of $4.50 per person, free to members. Great for kids 2-12, must be accompanied by an adult.

The Tony award-winning musical “Titanic” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse tonight, November 9-12 and 15-19. Call (814) 454-2852 ext 0 for ticket information.

Enjoy brunch and a movie Sunday’s in November (Nov 5,12,19) at the Tom Ridge Enviromental Center. Have brunch at the Sunset Cafe – with great menu items like Omelets, Bacon and Sausage, Breakfast Potatoes, Fruit Crepes, Scrambled Eggs, Chicken Penne Mediterranean, Assorted Salads, Juices, Breakfast Breads and coffee. Dive into great sweets to top off your brunch. Then catch a flick at the Big Green Screen Theater, the 175 seat, large format theater. Cost – Brunch $10.95 Adults, $5.95 Children (age 2 and under eat free), add $4 for movie tickets.

Gannon University on Sunday, Nov 5 will award $192,000 in scholarships during its annual Fall Open house. Funds will be awarded to students who place in Scholarship Contests to be offered in the following academic areas: foreign languages (French, Spanish, and German), biology, chemistry, engineering, English, and education. Three scholarships will be awarded in each area, with first place worth $3,000, second place $2,000, and third place $1,000. In order to qualify, students must enroll as full-time undergraduates at Gannon. The scholarships are renewable annually provided that students meet certain eligibility requirements. The exams will begin at 10 am. For more information on the Open House, contact the Gannon University Office of Admissions at 814-871-7240 or 1-800-GANNON-U.

The Erie Art Museum invites singers and non-singers alike to a throat singing workshop with internationally touring Tuvan throat singers Chirgilchin on Wednesday, November 8 at 7 pm in the Erie Art Museum Annex. Cost is $5 per person. Workshop attendees will receive a $5 off tickets to Chirgilchin’s Nov 9 performance. Throat singing is an extraordinary vocal form in which one singer produces two or more voices at the same time, one voice harmonizing with the others. A performance is scheduled for Nov 9 at 8 pm in the Erie Art Museum Annex. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for Erie Art Museum and Jazz Erie members and $10 for students and seniors. For more information on the workshop or performance call the Erie Art Museum at 459-5477.

Gannon University will host a workshop on play therapy to be presented by Richard E Watts, PhD, a nationally known author, researcher, and clinician. “Counseling with Toys” will run from 9 am to 4 pm Friday, Nov 10 at the Avalon Hotel, 16 West Tenth Street. It will be hosted by the Gannon University Community Counseling Program and is co-sponsored by the Gamma Upsilon Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the Gannon Social Work program and School of Education, the Pennsylvania Association for Play Therapy, the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology, and the Lake Erie Adlerian Institute. Participants can qualify for six continuing education credits (CEUs) and ACT 48 hours. The cost is $50 (pre-registration by Nov 2), or $20 for students. A discount is available for members of Chi Sigma Iota. For more information or to obtain registration material, contact Kenneth McCurdy, PhD, assistant professor, community counseling, at 814-871-7791.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra perform at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arean on Friday, Nov 10. Some tickets still remain.

William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” a rollicking tale of mistaken identity and witty dialogue, will be the fall Studio Theatre performance at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Performances will begin at 8 pm on Friday Nov 10, Saturday Nov 11, and Wednesday Nov 15 through Saturday Nov 18. A 2 pm matinee performance will be held on Sunday, Nov 12. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students; reservations can be made by calling 814-898-6304.

The rock band Lareau will play at Docksiders located at 1015 State Street in Erie on November 10. Admission is $5. The band has just completed filming its first music video with Producer’s/Director’s James Pizzaro and Aaron Doonan . The song is the title cut from their debut Rust Records release entitled ‘Changes’. Lareau is working on their second album with producers Darrin Payne and Anthony Brown at All Sound Recording Studios in Warren PA.

The Erie Philharmonic presents Made In America at the Warner Theatre on Saturday, Nov 11 at 8 pm. John Morris Russell, Music Director Candidate, will be the Conductor.

The All American Hot Dog and Chili Party will be held November 12 from 1-5 pm at the Huzar Club, 1122 East 10 St. This is open to the public. Hot dogs and a variety of chili’s to try. Games, Chinese auction, basket raffles, 50/50′S and fun. Proceeds benefit 12-year old Kristina King, Student Delegate of Harbor Creek. She will be going to Washington, DC April 2007 for the People to People World Leadership Forum.

Box of Light Theatre brings its multi-dimensional stage performance of “Pavlov’s Clown” to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Tuesday, Nov 14. The one-hour lunchtime show will begin at 12:30 pm in the Reed Union Building’s Bruno’s Cafe. A presentation of the college’s Rhythms of Life cultural series, “Pavlov’s Clown” is free and open to the public. A full menu of hot and cold lunch items will be available for purchase at the cafe.

Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra, Conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright, will perform on Friday, November 17. The performance will feature the Edinboro University Singers. It is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm at the Erie Central High auditorium, 3325 Cherry Street.

The Goo Goo Dolls will play a concert at the Warner Theatre in Erie Tuesday December 5. Tickets are on sale now.

The movies for the Holiday Film Series at the Big Green Screen Theater are The Lion King (Dec 5), The Incredibles (Dec 12), the excellent 1961 version of 101 Dalmations (Dec 19) and Toy Story (Dec 26).