Today is the final day of the season at Waldameer Amusement Park and Water World. Good weather means good crowds and Erie has had good Summer weather. Construction work continues on the Ravine Flyer II, a wooden and steel roller coaster. The coaster will traverse Peninsula Drive (State Route 832). The ride will open in 2008.

The deadline to register for an Erie Art Museum fall classes is fast approaching. Tuesday, September 4 is the last day to sign up for the new session that begins Monday, September 10. The Museum is offering a wide array of adult and children’s classes in painting, photography, clay and more. Youth classes include Kids and Clay; Pottery for Young People; Fabric, Wood, Yarn, Paint and More; Drawing Basics for Young People; Printmaking for Kids; and Without Boundaries. Adult classes include Weaving Basics, Bellydancing, Oriental Painting, New Approaches to Life Drawing, Freeing the Natural Body, Beginning American Sign Language, Jewelry Making, Watercolor Landscape Class, Advanced Digital Photography, Still Life Painting Class, Pottery Classes, The Surface of Clay and Independent Study – Advanced Ceramics. Space is limited, so register today. Costs vary by class and payment is due in full at the time of registration. A discount is available for Erie Art Museum members. Teachers can earn Act 48 credits for each hour of class attended. For more information on these classes or to download an online registration form, visit ErieArtMuseum.org. A registration form and information on Act 48 credits can also be obtained by calling the Erie Art Museum at (814) 459-5477.

The Erie SeaWolves ended a four game losing skid behind a masterful performance by Andrew Kown en route to a 7-0 shutout win over the Altoona Curve on Sunday night at Jerry Uht Park. The SeaWolves and Curve wrap up the regular season on Monday afternoon at Jerry Uht Park…1:05 First Pitch. Akron was victorious on Sunday night in Binghamton by a score of 6-3. Monday’s game is scheduled as a doubleheader with the following scenarios:
If the SeaWolves win game one (a seven inning game) they clinch the Southern Division and game two would not be played.
If the SeaWolves lose game one and Akron wins their game against Binghamton. The SeaWolves and Curve would play the second seven inning game on Monday.
If the SeaWolves lose and the Aeros lose, Erie clinches the Southern Division and a second game would not be played.

Attendance for the second day of races at Presque Isle Downs and Casino was 4287. People could actually breathe. Some people might have stayed away because there were too many people there on Saturday with a crowd of 15,737. There is only parking for 4,000 cars. The $100000 Tom Ridge Labor Day Stakes takes place today. The field has nine 3 year olds in the six furlong event as the seventh of eight races. Cherokee Country and Trophy Road are the early favorites. Post time for the first race is 5:30 pm.

The Gannon University women’s soccer team (2-1) shutout the Daemen College Wildcats 4-0.

The Mercyhurst women’s tennis team cruised to a victory in its season opener, defeating West Liberty State 8-1 Sunday at Westwood Racquet Club.

The Behrend Lions men’s soccer team lost 4-2 to Baldwin-Wallace in the championship match of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Soccer Tournament.

The Rockhurst Hawks scored in the 84th minute on to steal the win away from the Mercyhurst College men;s soccer team. Mercyhurst falls to 1-2-1 on the year, while the Hawks climb to 4-0.

The Mercyhurst men’s water polo team opened its 2007 campaign at the Navy Labor Day Open and earned a regular season victory over Queens (NY) on Sunday, which followed exhibition wins over Pacific B and Lindenwood.

The Gannon men’s water polo team concluded the Naval Academy Tournament Sunday afternoon with a pair of losses to Division I schools, suffering setbacks at the hands of Iona (17-9) and Fordham (14-5).

The 86th annual Spartansburg Community Fair runs through September 8. The Fair Princess and Fair Queen are crowned Monday evening at 8 pm. Ride-A-Rama is everyday. One of the areas largest parades is Saturday Morning at 11 am followed by a huge fireworks display Saturday Evening at 11:15 pm to end the week of fun and festivities.

Erie’s own community jazz band, Gem City Jazz Ensemble, will offer a free outdoor performance on Tuesday evening, September 4 at the St John’s Lutheran Church parking lot at 2216 Peach Street. The 20-member, all-volunteer group will perform from 7 to 8 pm and feature some of the band’s favorite charts, including Hayburner, Just You ‘N’ Me, Summertime, Jump Jive an’ Wail, In the Mood, and In the Stone. Of course the show is free and open to the public – bring a chair and enjoy the show. In case of rain, the performance will be held indoors at the St. John’s Parish Center Auditorium. For more information, visit www.GemCityBands.org or call 825-4705.

Ladies, pull out those poodle skirts, bobby socks and saddle shoes and pull your hair into a ponytail. Guys, throw on your leather jacket and grease back your hair. The Roadhouse Theatre is going to turn back the clocks and rewind the years to the 1950′s. “Buddy Holly, The Day the Music Died” will be performed at the Roadhouse Theatre Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, September 7-22. The show stars Matty B and the Dirty Pickles. Admission: $8 (student), $10 (regular), $12 (riser) and $15 (VIP). The Box Office Phone number is (814) 456-5656.

The 7th annual triathlon on Presque Isle State Park will take place Saturday, September 8, 2007, the first Saturday after Labor Day. All segments of the triathlon…the swim, the bike and the run…will start, transition and finish at Beach 6. PI TRI 07 is open to individuals and 2-3 person relay teams.

The 9th annual Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park Festival of family fun and environmental learning will be held September 8, 10 am – 3 pm. From the children’s tree climb to horticulture presentations, there will be something for all to enjoy. The day includes children’s games and crafts; hands-on demonstrations; musical performances; an animal petting zoo; food and more. FREE admission.

The 2007 Erie Heritage Festival – “The Last Blast of Summer” – returns again as the Lake Erie Region’s popular community enrichment event. Erie’s Heritage Festival is a day-long performance venue of Americana and World music performed by musicians from the Erie and Southern Ontario regions. The event concludes with a summer Pops performance by the Erie Philharmonic. The finale of the Pops concert is a dramatic presentation of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever – complete with cannon fire, church bells, and fireworks. The event takes place September 8 at Liberty Park on the Erie Bayfront.

The 34th annual Erie Marathon at Presque Isle takes place Sunday September 9 at 7 am. The start/finish is in the Rotary Pavilion Area (approximately 3 miles from the entrance to the park) and the traditional two loop course will be run on Presque Isle State Park. This marathon is quite possibly the flattest course in the country. World records were recently set on this course in 2003 and 2005. Marathon organizers expect more than 900 runners and 200 volunteers from 38 states, Canada and Germany at this year’s race.

Where economic freedom rings, political freedom is sure to follow, says an economist who will speak next month at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The Sam and Irene Black School of Business will host Robert Lawson PhD, co-author of the annual Economic Freedom of the World report, for a lecture and question and answer session on Monday, Sept 10. Lawson’s presentation will take place at 5 pm in the lecture hall of the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). It is free and open to the public.

Would you, or someone you know, like to join a band? The Gem City Concert Band of Erie, PA, is seeking new members for the Fall 2007 season. The concert band, currently consisting of 45 members, is very versatile, playing music such as old overtures, show tunes, traditional concert band pieces, movie scores, and marches. The band presents a spring and fall concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church, as well as numerous other retirement homes and community performances throughout the year. Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:30 pm in the lower-level meeting room of St John’s Lutheran Church at 23rd and Peach Streets. Fall 2007 rehearsals begin September 11th. Interested musicians should contact the director, Betty McKinney, at 814-602-9247 for more information or visit on-line at www.GemCityBands.org. All instruments are welcomed. Membership is free!

The PA Department of General Services (DGS) is hosting a “Doing Business with the Commonwealth” workshop in Erie PA on September 12. Please contact Gayle Nuppnau at 412-442-5872 or gnuppnau@state.pa.us for details.

Indigenous Aztec dance and music is on the menu for the first performance in the 2007-08 Rhythms of Life cultural series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac ensemble will perform between noon and 1:45 pm on Wednesday, Sept 12, in Bruno’s Café, located on the second floor of the college’s Reed Union Building. The performance is free and open to the public, and a full menu of hot and cold lunch items will be available for purchase.

The Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission is sponsoring meetings with18 overseas trade representatives September 12-13 in Erie. One-on-one appointments on September 13 will run from 8 am – 11:30 am and 12:30 pm – 3 pm. The following overseas trade representatives will be available: Australia / New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China-Beijing, China-Shanghai, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore/ASEAN, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Vietnam. Click here for the registration form.

The Erie Irish Festival takes place September 14-16 at Rainbow Gardens on the grounds of Waldameer Amusement Park and Water World.

St John’s the Evangelist Annual Parish Festival will be held on Saturday, September 15 from Noon until 7 PM at the St John’s Parish Center, 1001 Main Street in Girard. Car Cruise-in, Kid s Korner, Chinese Auction, Raffles and much, much more. Delicious barbecue chicken and spare ribs dinners are available along with live music and a traveling zoo from the Erie Zoo. Please contact Linda Tolhurst at 474-3033 for additional information.

The Scions of Britain (the SOB’s), The British Motoring Group of Northwestern Pennsylvania, proudly presents the 15th annual All British Car Gathering, Sunday September 16, 2007 at the Waterford Square, Waterford, PA. 12 Noon to 4 PM. For more information contact Tom Lee – (814) 725-5992 or rthomaslee@aol.com.

The famed Cavani String Quartet returns to Erie in September to open the 18th season of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. Cavani String Quartet will present its free Logan Series public performance at noon on Wednesday, Sept 19, in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building.

Douglas Bruce, principal organist at St Franz Xaver Church in Munchenstein, Switzerland, will give an organ recital as part of the Smith Music Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Tuesday, Sept 25. Bruce’s performance, which begins at noon, is free and open to the public and will take place in the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel.

The Great Lakes Independent Film Festival takes place September 27-30 at the Roadhouse Theatre in Erie PA.

The Erie Art Museum’s Contemporary Music Series will present violinist Diane Monroe in concert on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 at 8 pm at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 423 State Street. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested.

Mercyhurst Men’s Basketball Alumni are organizing an Alumni Basketball game for charity. The event is scheduled for September 29, 2007 at 7pm at the MAC. Come See some of your favorite Mercyhurst players from the past and some of the Mercyhurst stars of the future compete in 3-point contests and a dunk contest. All proceeds from the gate will benefit the Alheimer’s Association of Erie. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Players include Brent Swain, Keith Nies, Matt Thielker, Gerry Battle, and Dion Brown, Jason Ioppolo, and Jody Crymes.

The 2007 Wine Country Harvest Festival will be held in North East, PA September 28, 29 and 30.

In conjunction with Alumni Reunion 2007, Penn State Behrend Finance graduates are invited back to campus for a Finance Alumni Reception hosted by Sam and Irene Black School of Business faculty. Greg Filbeck, the Finance program chair, and Finance faculty Brian Boscaljon, Jessica Zhou, and Kay Johnson have planned an informal reception for Finance alumni and their guests from 10:00 until 11:30 am on Saturday, September 29. The reception is part of the college’s Alumni Reunion and concurrent Parents & Families Weekend, and will be held in the cafe of the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). Attendance reservations should be made by Saturday, September 15.