One man died and two people are in serious condition after an accident on I-90 in Harborcreek. It happened at 4 pm. Traffic was backed up to near the New York and Ohio state lines. With the thruway closed, traffic was funneled into the city on to Route 20. Total clusterf___. Detour signs are difficult to understand and follow.

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong pleaded not guilty to the charges she planned the bank robbery which ended with Brian Wells, a pizza deliveryman, being killed by a collar bomb around his neck.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine will take the next step on its path to bring better health and wellness to Erie. LECOM will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 54th and Peach Streets. Following the groundbreaking, contractors will begin construction on the building that is scheduled for opening in September 2008. Over the past four months, workers have removed buildings on the property and prepared the site for construction of the three-story LECOM Medically Integrated Health and Wellness Center. The College is investing $31 million in a facility that brings medical care together with fitness by teaming LECOM with Millcreek Community Hospital, Medical Associates of Erie, and Millcreek Geriatric Education and Care Center to make a medical fitness difference in local health care. The spa-quality fitness center will occupy the first two floors of the three-story building with three swimming pools, aerobic and yoga fitness rooms, basketball and racquetball courts, a 3-lane indoor running track and a physical therapy facility. The third-floor will house offices for Medical Associates of Erie offering Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Geriatrics, Orthopedic Surgery and OB-GYN care. When the Center opens, Power Wellness Management, a national health and wellness center management team, will operate the LECOM facility.

Erie Based Indie Film Studio GMD Films announced that the new Dramatic Comedy “Virgin Pockets” will have it’s World Theatrical Premiere at the 2007 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival. The film, starring Marie Madison, Chexy Grace and Jeremy Krukowski, will be the Feature Presentation for The Opening Night Kick-Off Party on Thursday, September 27. This will be the Second World Theatrical Premiere from GMD Films that has been hosted by The Great Lakes Film Association. Last May, the GMD Films horror film “Fury” was presented as a Special Presentation. In addition the film, there will be an After Party featuring bands from the Virgin Pockets soundtrack along with guests Marie Madison, Chexy Grace, Jeremy Krukowski, Stephanie Placley and Director Paul Gorman along with several other members of the cast and crew.

The Governor signed Senate Bill 943 which appropriates $1,861,000 to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for 2007-08.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission recently closed 5 loans: A $196,000 SBF/FIF Agriculture loan closed for Westford Milling of Crawford County. The loan was used to purchase and install a feed batching system. A $150,000 USDA/RLF loan closed for DHSteel Products LLC and DH Realty LLC of Erie County. The loan was used to purchase and renovate a building. A $123,700 SBF loan closed for K B Pizza of Venango County. The loan was used to purchase land and install equipment and do renovations. A $40,000 SBF loan closed for American Tinning and Galvanizing Company of Erie County. The loan was used to purchase a supplemental water treatment system. A $164,250 SBF loan closed for World Gutter Systems of Erie County. The loan was used to purchase machinery and equipment.

For the week of July 9-15, Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $36,383,359 and payouts of $32,982,774. As for horse racing, PID will offer an inaugural 25 night meet which runs from Sept 1-29 with an average of $500,000 per program in purses. Presque Isle Downs will offer eight races per program on a Wednesday – Monday schedule with post time at 5:30 pm. The stakes schedule, at about $1.7 million, includes the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs Sept 15. The Sept 15 card will include the $175,000 Presque Isle Mile for 3 year olds and up at one mile, and the $175,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Northwestern PA Stakes for 3 year olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs. Pennsylvania HBPA president Joe Santanna stated that the purses for the first Presque Isle Downs meet will be the highest in Pennsylvania racing history. For its final meet 20 years ago, Erie Downs offered 79 days of racing with an average purse of $1,500.

Integrated Mortgage Solutions announced the addition of 25-year mortgage banking veteran Tom Gay to senior vice president, sales and marketing manager for the company. Gay received his bachelor of arts in Business Management from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.

The Todd Martino Group is a jazz band made of of Arizona State students. Todd has been playing piano all his life but has been especially focused on Jazz since high school. Born in Erie, PA, he is currently a junior at ASU pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Erie radio station, WRIE AM1260 The Score, launched their web site.

The Erie SeaWolves game against the Reading Phillies was postponed due to rain. The two squads will now play a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 18, beginning at 12:05 pm. Show your Giant Eagle Advantage Card at the ticket window and receive $2 off Reserved Seat tickets.

Erie PA native Tim Costa will compete in the Potomac River in the Stren Series Northern Division tournament. It’s been 6 years since he took part in a professional bass fishing competition. Costa suffers from obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy. If Costa is in the top 40 pro anglers after divisional competition ends this fall, he will be invited to the $1 million Stren Series Championship in November in Mobile, Ala. The top 10 pros from each division also will qualify for next season’s Wal-Mart FLW Tour and Wal-Mart FLW Series. Costa now lives in Plano, Texas.

Mercyhurst College grad Brendan Flood is tied for the lead after the opening round at the New York State Golf Association Men’s Amateur Championship. The top 32 golfers after two rounds will advance to the match-play portion of the championship with the final match on Saturday.

Tennessee Back Porch performs a free concert at Beach 1 beginning at 6:30 pm for the Sprint Sunset Music Series. This is the last concert of the season. Be sure to come out to Discover Presque Isle (July 27-29) to ensure a Sunset Music Series in 2008.

Roger Knacke, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the School of Science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host an Open House Night in Astronomy tonight, Wednesday, July 18, titled “The Summer Stars.” Beginning at 8:30 pm, Knacke will lecture in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building on the astronomical splendors of the summer sky. Weather permitting, astronomical viewing of the moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, stars, and nebulae using the college’s Mehalso Observatory will follow from 9:30 until 11:00 pm. Open House Nights in Astronomy are free and open to the public, and intended for a non-technical audience age 6 and up. For additional information, call (814) 898-6105.

Lvsitanvs, a pair of Portugese sister-carillonneurs, will perform duets on the Floyd and Juanita Smith Carillon at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, the evening of Thursday, July 19. The performance is part of the college’s summer Smith Carillon Concert Series. It begins at 7 pm and is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Seating will be on the lawn of the John M. Lilley Library, so concertgoers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre presents the 4th Annual Shakespeare Summer Nights with performances outdoors on the Friendship Green located near the Gannon Arch on West 7th Street. Shakespeare’s magically, romantic fantasy, The Tempest directed by Paula Barrett will run July 19th, 21st, and 27th. The mysteriously, deceptive tragedy Macbeth with a modern twist is directed by Zach Flock, with performances July 20th, 26th, and 28th. All performances begin at 7:30 pm, and are FREE and open to the public. For more details, call (814) 871-7493.

The Presque Isle Parrothead Club 2007 Key West Fest will be held July 20-21 at Liberty Park on the bayfront in Erie PA. Admission and parking are FREE.

The Greater Erie Youth Symphony Orchestra D’Angelo Summer Music Camp will be held July 23-27 at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College. The camp is for beginning, intermediate, advanced string, bass, wind, percussion students ages 8-18. To register call (814) 898-6243.

The summer heats up on Thursday, July 26 for the BBQ, Blues and Brews Block Party benefit event for the Erie Art Museum from 5 pm to midnight. This FREE event features a smokin’ BBQ prepared by Pufferbelly Restaurant, live music and a scavenger hunt throughout the Museum’s galleries. The Museum’s 5th Street parking lot transforms into an outdoor dining courtyard from 5-8 pm. The event moves to State Street from 8 pm to midnight where State Street grooves to the music of One World Tribe and a performance by Erie’s African Dance Troupe, Sylla Kunda. Ol’ Dogs grills up their gourmet hotdogs. Of course the brews will still be on tap. A portion of the proceeds from the BBQ and beverage sales will be donated to the Erie Art Museum.

Tin-Shi Tam, the Cownie Professor of Music and university carillonneur at Iowa State, will close the summer Smith Carillon Concert Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, with a concert on Thursday, July 26. Tam’s performance on the Floyd and Juanita Smith Carillon will begin at 7 pm and is free and open to the public. Audience seating will be on the lawn of the John M Lilley Library, so concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair with them.

The Wattsburg Erie County Battle of the Bands and Music Festival will be held Friday evening July 27 and Saturday July 28 at the Erie County Fairgrounds.

Discover Presque Isle will be held July 27-29, 2007 at Presque Isle State Park. No matter what your age or interests, there is something for everyone. Admission and parking are FREE.

The Native American Festival will be held at the Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm 11 am – 6 pm daily July 28-29. Admission is $3 per person, 3 and under are FREE. Parking is by donation to the Edinboro Lions Club. Opening ceremonies at 12 Noon each day. Intertribal dancing all day with special dancers performing at 1pm, 2pm, and 5pm.

The Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul will play a concert at Jerry Uht Park in Erie, PA on July 31 as part of “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Triple Play Ballpark Tour.” Tickets can be purchased at the SeaWolves box office at Jerry Uht Park and on SeaWolves.com. Children under 12 get in FREE with each paid adult ticket holder.

The Motorcycle, Car, Boat and Truck show called the Lake Erie Classic will be held August 3-5 at Erie International Airport, Tom Ridge Field.

The 15th Annual Erie Art Museum’s Blues and Jazz Festival, the largest jazz and blues event in the Erie region, is a 2 day Festival held August 4 and 5 at Frontier Park in Erie, Pa. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. A variety of festival fare will be available from local vendors and restaurants. Admission to all Festival events is free.
Saturday August 4 – 12 pm One World Tribe with the UpRise African Drum and Dance Ensemble, 2 pm Familiar Spirit Band, 4 pm Geoff Achison, 6 pm Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, 8 pm Junior Brown
Sunday August 5 – 12 pm Gem City Jazz Band, 2 pm Cats A Bear, 4 pm Babik, 6 pm Stew Cutler Trio, 8 pm Rashied Ali Quintet
Ongoing: WQLN Kids Tent, Festival Fare, LEAF Arboretum Tours/Green Tag

The Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association will host its 2007 steak fry on Saturday, August 4, at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The annual event, which will be held at the Wilson Picnic Grove on the campus of Penn State Behrend, begins with a social hour at 5 pm, followed by the dinner’s signature “grill your own” steak fry at 6 pm. The fund-raiser is open to all Penn State alumni. Proceeds benefit the Lake Erie Chapter’s Robert W Sparks scholarship fund, which has awarded more than $55,000 to local students in the past 16 years. Tickets for the annual steak fry fund-raiser are $19 per person. For more information or to RSVP, contact Phil Mobilia, president of the Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, at 814-725-1999 (home) or 716-483-7219 (office), or via e-mail at Phil.Mobilia@psualum.com. Please respond by July 30. Visit www.behrend.psu.edu/alumni for more information about the Lake Erie Chapter or to become a member.

Representatives of the waterfowl organizations, individual sportsmen and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, Aug 10, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Northwest Pennsylvania Duck Hunters Association, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2007-08 hunting seasons. The briefing will begin at 1 pm, in Room 112 of the Tom Ridge Education Center at Presque Isle State Park in Erie.

Titled “Local Government and the Erie Economy,” the 2007 Economic Research Institute of Erie (ERIE) conference will address topics relevant to Erie and its surrounding communities, including the debate about consolidating the area’s local governments and the smoking ban. The institute’s sixth annual conference will be held on August 14, in McGarvey Commons, located in the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The cost to attend this year’s conference is $149 and includes printed materials, breakfast and lunch. A reduced rate of $75 is available for nonprofit, government and economic development officials. For more information or to register for the conference, call (814) 898-7149.