Erie area residents can recycle their old telephone books and also help the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, thanks to Idearc Media, the official publisher of Verizon Print Directories and Erie Energy Products. A $5,000 grant from Idearc Media to the Second Harvest Food Bank will enable Second Harvest to continue to coordinate the telephone book recycling project for the 12th consecutive year throughout Erie County. In addition, Erie Energy Products gives Second Harvest the going price per ton for the books which are made into new insulation. Here’s where to take your books:Second Harvest Food Bank ,1703 Ash St in Erie, Erie Energy Products, 1400 Irwin Dr in Erie, Millcreek Township Municipal Building, 3608 West 26th St, Greene Township Muncipal Building, 9333 Tate Rd, Summit Township Municipal Building, 8900 Old French Rd, Harborcreek Township Municipal Building – 5601 Buffalo Rd and Fairview Township Municipal Building, 4701 Franklin Rd.

I saw through a new Erie blog called Erie Shipping News that American Courage will be arriving today at the Port of Erie. Great job by Jeff to post this news and other news about happenings at the waterfront.

With the recent accreditation of the software engineering baccalaureate degree, the School of Engineering at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, now boasts 10 degrees that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

The Erie Otters lost to Belleville 3-2. Zack Torquato, in his first game with the Otters, and Ronny Rogers scored for Erie. The Otters dropped their fifth straight and are now 5-18-0-2. The Otters return to action Saturday night at the Tullio Arena when they host the Kitchener Rangers (14-8-0-2) in a 7:30 pm start.

In PIAA Quad A football, Erie Cathedral Prep (10-1) takes on Pittsburgh Brashear (8-3) at 6 pm today at Erie Memorial Stadium. Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium is located at 26th and State Sts in Erie. Here’s a map of the location.

Both Mercyhurst College hockey teams have home games today. The 2nd ranked Mercyhurst women face 8th ranked Boston College at 4 pm. The Mercyhurst men play Holy Cross at 7 pm.

The Gannon University men’s basketball team opens the 2006-07 regular season Friday, November 24 by hosting the 20th annual Gary Miller Classic. Lock Haven faces Pitt-Johnstown at 6 pm and the Golden Knights open against C W Post in the nightcap at 8 pm.

The excellent movie “Everest” opens Friday November 24 at theTom Ridge Environmental Center Big Green Screen Theater. Experience the only large format theater in Northwest Pennsylvania with its 4 story high, 33 foot wide screen that brings you as close to reality as you can get without being there.

The Gem City Jazz Ensemble will also be providing entertainment at this year’s St Vincent Festival of Trees today, Friday, November 24th at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center on upper Peach Street. Take a break from your hectic and exhausting Black Friday shopping and enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds of Christmas, featuring 50 professionally decorated trees. You’ll probably be out-and-about anyway, so stop in and see them. Gem City will be playing from 7-8:30 pm this evening.

The Erie Central High School Class of 1996 will hold their 10 year class reunion on Saturday November 25 at 7 pm at the Siebenbuerger Club, 2114 French Street. Tickets are $20 per person. For more info, call (814) 898-6063. or email echs1996reunion@yahoo.com .

The After Dinner Opera Company, which is in residence at Mercyhurst College, is readying a production of Warren Martin’s comic opera “The True Story of Cinderella” – a spoof that features a knight singing “The Notre Dame Fight Song,” a wizard who sings the blues, and a prince with laryngitis. A dozen Mercyhurst music students will perform the show at Helen’s Supper Club in New York City using traditional opera, as well as blues, rock and rhythm style. Before leaving for the Big Apple, they’ll offer a free public preview on Tuesday, Nov 28, at 3 pm in the college’s Walker Recital Hall.

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre production of James Joyce’s “The Dead” opens November 30. Set in 1904, the last and best known of the short stories collected in the Dubliners, this intimate musical portrays a homespun Yuletide party with Irish music, dancing, food, drink, and good fellowship. Sparkling songs, many of them traditional-sounding Irish melodies that are performed as entertainment by the partygoers, are all original. Book by Richard Nelson, music by Shaun Davey, lyrics adapted by Davey and by Richard Nelson. Directed by Shawn Clerkin, assistant professor, theatre, and director of the Gannon theatre program. Additional performances will be given Dec 1-3 and Dec 7-9. All shows are at 8 pm, except for Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras St. For more information, call the box office at (814) 871-7494.

Downtown Erie will sparkle this holiday season with thousands of holiday lights and live entertainment at this year’s Downtown d’LIGHTS on Friday, December 1 from 6-8 pm. Enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, ice sculptors, live entertainment and the lighting of Perry Square.

For the fifth year, Penn State Behrend offers the perfect antidote to treacley, tinkling holiday hot air: Christmas carols performed with the collective power of over 100 student, amateur, and professional tuba and euphonium players. It’s called TubaChristmas Erie, and it will be held at 2 pm Saturday, Dec 2, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Even better, it is free and open to the public. TubaChristmas debuted at Rockefeller Center’s ice rink in 1974 as a tribute to the late tuba legend William J. Bell, who was born Christmas Day 1902. The event has since grown to the point that it is held in 200-plus cities each year. All area tuba, baritone, and euphonium players are invited to participate in TubaChristmas. Registration begins at 8:30 am that day, and rehearsal at 9:30.

Experience Erie’s premier holiday tradition with an outstanding group of musicians and everyone’s favorite newsworthy entertainer, Amanda Post. Singing along with Amanda this season is the ever popular and talented Brenda Evans, close friend and celebrated song master Bob Martin and of course sister Abby Daggett. Lead by piano virtuoso James Madden, the band includes perennial string masters Brian Hunt and Carl Hultman along with James Abate (drums), Dave Stertevant (violin), Derf Hopsecger (bass), and Chris Dempsey (horns). “One Voice for Christmas with Amanda Post” will be performed Saturday December 2 at 8 pm and Sunday, December 3 at 2 pm at the Warner Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at the Warner Theatre Box Office (814) 452-4857. Cost is $12, $18, VIP seating $25.

Take a “Musical Tour Across Europe” at the Penn State Behrend Concert Band’s annual winter performance. The concert will be held at 8 pm Monday, Dec 4, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. It is free and open to the public.

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

Charles M Telesco, a professor of astronomy at University of Florida, will host “Worlds in Collision” during an Open House Night in Astronomy program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Telesco’s presentation will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Dec 7, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. It is free and open to the public, and, weather permitting, will be followed by astronomical viewing from the college’s Mehalso Observatory.

The 2006 Stairways Behavioral Health Holiday Art Show and Sale will be held Friday December 8 from 3-6 pm at 2810 State Street. Choose from hundreds of one-of-a-kind gifts including artwork, ornaments and NEW for 2006–glass nightlights and handmade jewelry. Admission is Free and open to everyone in the community.

The next production at the Roadhouse Theater is “SantaLand Diaries” and “Season’s Greetings.” Playwright, author, and National Public Radio commentator David Sedaris compose two entertaining, irreverently witty essays which were adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello. The production opens with a post-show reception the evening after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24 and continues through Saturday, December 23. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656 or in person at the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Arts 145 West 11th Street. Box Office hours are 2-6 PM Tuesday – Saturday. The theater accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Two facets of the choral music program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will be showcased at its annual fall concert on Tuesday, Nov 28. The concert will begin at 8 pm in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. The College Choir and the Studio Singers both will perform under the direction of Daniel Barnard, lecturer in music. Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are available at the door or at the Reed Union Building information desk.

Shangahi Quartet, a versatile ensemble known for its passionate musicality, impressive technique, and multicultural innovation, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Friday, Dec 1. Their lunchtime appearance, part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series, will begin at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. It is free and open to the public.

The War at the Shore II wresting showcase will be held Friday, Dec 1 at the Tullio Arena. Fort LeBoeuf vs Mount Pleasant and McDowell vs General McLane takes place at 6 pm. Edinboro vs Michigan State and Mercyhurst vs Gannon go at it at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 day of event at the door or only $6 in advance through Ticketmaster.

The Chillers, the dance team for the Erie Freeze, will hold a tryout on Saturday, December 9 at the Avalon Hotel, 16 West 10. Registration is from 9:30 am – 10:30 am with tryouts from10:30 am – 1 pm. The dancers will be taught a 30 second hip-hop dance and 1 sideline dance, which they will then perform. Each dancer will need to bring 4 “8 counts” of their own dance of hip-hop style that they will add to end of the dance they learn. Other various dance routines may be included though out the tryout. The dancers will be asked to do a series of high kicks, double-turn and an optional leap. The music for all routines will be provided. Each dancer will be notified by the end of the tryout, whether he or she has made the team or not and will be required to attend a meeting scheduled by the team’s captains. Everyone will need to bring the following: Black dance pants, black sports bra, tennis/dance shoes w/socks, and a valid ID. Each girl should be in full make-up and hair.Audition fee: $10 (cash or money order). For more information or to register, call (814) 454-0200 or email christina@eriefreeze.com .

The Holiday Toy Drive (benefiting SafeNet Erie) and Gift Wrapping Party will be held at the Plymouth Tavern, 1109 State Street, on Wednesday, December 13 at 6 pm. Contact Melissa Newell at melissamnewell(at)gmail.com for information regarding the Toy Drive. Yep! has partnered with United Way Young Leaders for this event. Please join them in providing gifts for local families currently being sheltered.

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).