Nader Elguindi was born in Essex, England in 1971. He parents immigrated to the United States when he was 2. The family made Erie PA their home. The family later lived in Pittsburgh and Augusta, GA. Nader Elguindi graduated from Appalachian State University graduating in 1992 and went to Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. Elguindi became an officer in the U S Navy. Nader was assigned to his first submarine, the USS Birmingham in Pearl Harbor in 1994. He performed various junior officer and division officer duties until he was badly hurt in a motorcycle accident, severing both his legs and severely damaging his arm. Even though he went through surgeries and 14 months of rehab, he went on to qualify in submarines, obtaining his “gold dolphins.” Following several appeals with the Navy’s Physical Evaluation Board, Nader learns that his wish to remain as an active duty officer in the U S Navy has failed. Discouraged from the failure but not deterred in life, Nader stumbled into a business opportunity and started his own information technology company. Nader’s story comes full circle ten years after his tragic accident when he won one of the largest small business contracts from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), a branch of the U S Navy.
Nader has written an inspirational book called “My Decision to Live“, proceeds of which go to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which supports our wounded veterans.

On Saturday April 14, the seasonal crew of the U S Brig Niagara begin working on the ship and start the rigging up.

The Erie SeaWolves will now open the season today, Monday, April 9, against the Binghamton Mets. Gates will open at 6 pm with the first pitch at 6:35 pm. Monday night will now be “Opening Day (Times 4)!” Fans can take advantage of a buy one ticket get FOUR free offer for the game (FIVE TICKETS FOR JUST $3). Monday will also feature a triple giveaway night. The first 2,000 fans will receive schedule posters and the first 1,000 fans will receive a 2007 magnetic schedule and a SeaWolves calendar. Monday’s game will also feature coffee, hot chocolate, and cappuccino specials for just $1. In addition to the Opening Day (Times 4) specials, fans can purchase Smith’s Hot Dogs, Beer, Pepsi Products and Popcorn for just $1.

The Gannon University Concert Band, under the direction of Bruce Morton Wright, will perform its annual Spring Concert on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 7:30 pm in Gannon University Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 512 Peach Street in Erie. This concert is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

The Catholic Studies Speaker Series at Mercyhurst College will present noted author Mary Gordon on Wednesday, April 11, for a presentation titled, “Catholicism Through a Literary Lens.” She will speak at 8:15 pm in the Walker Recital Hall. The program is free and open to the public.

The Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing will host its annual community/health fair on Thursday, April 12 at the John E Horan Community Center, 730 Tacoma Road. The fair, titled “Prevention Adventure,” will run from 4-7 pm. It is free and open to the public; attendees need not live in the Horan Garden Apartments. For more information call (814) 871-5512.

The Professional Bull Riders tour will be in Erie Friday Apr 13 and Saturday Apr 14.

Author and actor Peter Coyote will kick off the 2007 Literary Festival at Mercyhurst College with an appearance on Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 pm in the college’s Taylor Little Theatre. The festival, with a theme of “The Arts and the Counter-Culture: Then and Now,” continues April 19 with a visit by novelist Francine Prose and culminates April 25 with an event celebrating student creativity.

The Builders Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania 47th annual Home Show takes place April 12-15 at Family First Sports Park, 8155 Oliver Road.

Alto saxophone sensation Dave Pietro will be joined by four Brazilian musicians to present a special evening of Latin jazz at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, April 19. Music at Night tickets can be purchased at the door on April 19, in advance at the Reed Union Building main desk, or online. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8.50 for adults over 60, $5 for Penn State Behrend students, and $4 for kids under 16. In addition to the Music at Night performance, Dave Pietro’s Banda Brazil will perform at noon on Wednesday, April 18, also in McGarvey Commons. This one-hour concert, part of the Music at Noon series, is free and open to the public.

The Misery Bay Region of the Sports Car Club of America will hold their Spring Fling Rally on Sunday April 15 at the Burger King at I-90 Exit 18, the Presque Isle State Park exit. Registration is at12:30 pm, first car off 1:20 pm.

The Center for eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA) will hold a “Web Site Design and Online Marketing Essentials” Webinar on Tuesday April 17 from 9-10:30 am. The cost is $35. Registration deadline is April 11.

Careers in law enforcement, firefighting, criminal justice and other public safety professions are on the rise, and the Mercyhurst College Center for Public Safety (CPS) is quickly becoming a regional force in preparing individuals to serve in this field. Learn more about all that the Center for Public Safety has to offer at an Open House on Wednesday, April 18, from 6-7:30 pm, at the Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building on the campus of Mercyhurst – North East, 16 W Division St, North East, PA.

Literary nonfiction writer Marilyn Abildskov will close the 2006-07 Creative Writer’s Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, with a reading on Thursday, April 19. Abildskov will read from her works beginning at 6 pm in the Smith Chapel worship space. A 4:30 pm reception for her in the Smith Chapel living room will precede the reading; both are free and open to the public.

The Penn State Behrend Lion Entertainment Board 5th annual Battle of the Bands is going to be hitting Erie Hall on April 20. This year legendary ska band Less Than Jake along with fellow Fueld By Ramen artist The A.K.A.’s will join the ranks of bands who have taken the stage for this massive event. The battle from 1:30 – 6:30 will be FREE ADMISSION. Admission to LTJ and AKA’s will be $5 for General Admission and FREE with PSU ID.

The Erie Micro Brew Festival presented by WQLN will be held April 21 at Union Station at 14th and French Streets. There will be 2 sampling sessions 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm. All proceeds support public broadcasting and all PLCB laws apply. Attendees must be 21. Tickets will be available soon at many Erie area locations. Scheduled to attend are: The BrewErie at Union Station, The Erie Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing, Pennsylvania Brewery, Voodoo Brewery, The Flying Bison, Ellicottville Brewing Company, North Country Brewing Company, Hereford and Hops, Sprague Farm and Brew Works, The Buffalo Brew Pub, Magic Hat Brewing and the East End Brewing Company.

The first Misery Bay Region SCCA autocross is Sunday, April 22 at Penn State Behrend in Erie PA. Registration is at 8 am with first car on course about 10:30 am.

John Kanzius and Dr Steven Curley will be holding an informational symposium on the Kanzius cancer treatment on April 28 at 7pm at the Mercyhurst College Mary D`Angelo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10. For more information call Mercyhurst at (814) 824-3000.

The Tragically Hip play the Warner Theatre in Erie, Pa on May 18. Reserved seat tickets are $31.50.