A couple of people in Harrisburg, perhaps trying to justify high salaried political patronage jobs, are cracking down on eBay consignment stores. If a business sell things for other people on eBay on consignment for a fee, they must have a Pennsylvania auctioneer license. The State Board of Auctioneer Examiners has begun notifying offenders of their hearing dates. The fine for not having an auctioneer license is $1,000. I’ve sent out a few emails seeing if any stores in the Erie area has received anything from the state but haven’t heard back yet.

The Community Blood Bank fourth annual ‘Season of Giving’ starts today. Donors all week can enter to win a beautiful ceramic lamp with a stained glass shade donated by our friends at the Campbell Pottery Store ($800 value and makes a great gift) and the first 50 donors on Tuesday get a very festive Chocolate turkey from Pulakos 926 Chocolates.

It’s now time for the 5th annual ErieBlogs.com Secret Santa. The gift exchange is limited to items under $15. Thanks to Amazon’s affiliate program proceeds benefit the Erie PA based Parents of Autistic Children organization.

While there may be “no place like home for the holidays,” Mercyhurst College is making sure its international students who can’t get home over Thanksgiving Break don’t have the chance to get homesick. Beginning today, approximately 43 international students will be treated to a week of planned activities, including a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner on campus Thursday. Among the activities are fieldtrips to the Erie Zoo, Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie Planetarium, Erie Art Museum and a shopping excursion to the outlet stores in Grove City. A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, complete with turkey, prime rib, ham and all the trimmings, prepared by Quality Market and Wegman’s, takes place Thanksgiving Day from 5 to 9 pm in the Faculty Dining Room in Egan Hall.

The 41-year-old Expo Erie is set to become a technology summit of industrial leaders. The Technology Council of Northwest PA has partnered with the Erie Engineering Societies Council (EESC) to host the first Great Lakes Industrial Technology Summit on February 12 and 13 of 2008. The two day summit will feature regional products, address workforce development, innovation, technology and other competitive advantages for industry in the PA Great Lakes Region. Technology Council CEO, Perry Wood said, “The direction change in the Summit is part of the Council’s strategy to create an Advanced Manufacturing Network in northwest PA.” The Summit’s theme is Global Competitiveness and will host a series of speakers and special presentations on the topic. The term “advanced manufacturing” connotes a network of industry that embraces emerging technologies in order to tackle new markets, create efficiencies and innovate product lines.

Sean Jones, a 17 year old Left Winger with the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, was sent home by the team as they attempt to trade him. He must have a good agent because he has a no trade clause in his contract. The rumor is the team is trying to trade him to the Erie Otters.

The Behrend men’s basketball team closed out their annual tip-off tournament with a tight 73-68 victory over Baldwin-Wallace on Sunday, November 18 in the Junker Center. Behrend rallied behind tournament MVP Kevin Buczynski (Erie/Villa Maria), who had a dominant game for the blue and white. Buczynski worked for 15 points on six-of-eight shooting, while hauling down a game-high nine boards. He also passed out five assists from the post and had five blocks to propel Behrend to the five-point win. Baldwin-Wallace was ranked 20th in the nation according to D3Hoops.com preseason poll.

The NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary rankings for the 2008 Entry Draft. Erie Otters LW Jordan Skellett was ranked 17th in the OHL.

Join your friends at the Watson-Curtze Mansion for the 28th annual Victorian Holidays program Whimsical Wonderland. Included in this exhibit are professionally decorated evergreens, fireplace mantles, doorways, windows and other displays that will be open to the community. Whimsical Wonderland features more than ten different themed rooms; including a Seussical room decorated in all things Dr Seuss, a wintertime teddy bear picnic, a Victorian garden and much more. Participating decorators includes Traditions, the Carrie T Watson Garden Club and Melody Potratz of Potratz Garden Shop. Try you luck with the annual Chinese auction and win gift certificates from local eateries and specialty shops, or a holiday wreath. Victorian Holidays will run until December 30. Wednesday – Saturday 11 am – 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm – 4 pm. Museum Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $2 Children.

Michael Acri’s 23rd Annual Erie Boxing Classic will be held Wednesday, November 21 at The Avalon Hotel in downtown Erie. Former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (40-0-1, 16 KOs) is the headliner.

The Erie Central High School Class of 1997 Reunion is holding their 10 year reunion on Saturday, November 24 at the Cornerstone Bar and Grill, 809 East 38th St.

Join both the Gem City Bands – the Gem City Concert Band and the Gem City Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, November 24th at the 2007 Saint Vincent Auxiliary’s Festival of Trees at the Ambassador Conference Center on upper Peach Street. The Concert Band will perform from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. and the Jazz Ensemble will perform from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The performances are open to the public and the cost of admission to this year’s Festival of Trees is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 3-12. There will be 50 professionally decorated trees on display, and the Festival will also feature a Christmas Marketplace.

The Erie Broadway Series presents Annie at the Warner Theatre on Tues, Nov 27 at 7 pm.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy has scheduled an On Campus Day on November 29, 3-5 pm, to provide opportunities for prospective students to tour the campus facilities and learn about the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. It includes a tour of the facility, a Pharmacy Compounding and Dispensing demonstration, an opportunity to meet with current students and faculty, an overview of the LECOM Doctor of Pharmacy programs and information on the admissions process and financial aid.

The next Edinboro Film Series get together will be held Thursday, November 29 at 8 pm at the Pogue Student Center (the building formerly known as the UC). They’ll discuss some possible events and guests for the upcoming Spring semester, and then watch “Wristcutters: A Love Story.”

European and African tradition meet in the annual holiday performance by the Penn State Behrend Concert Choir and Chamber Choir. The concert takes place at 8 pm Friday, Nov 30, in the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for Penn State Behrend students, faculty and staff. They can be purchased at the Reed Union Building information desk and at the door.

Celebrate the Christmas season by visiting Santa Claus himself at the Experience Erie Children’s Museum. Enjoy a picnic breakfast, singing, a puppet show, and time for the children to make gifts for their loved ones. Picnic Breakfast with Santa Giftmaking Workshop takes place Saturdays, 9-11 am, Dec 1, 8, 15 and 22. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $8, $6 for members and free for kids under 2.

The Gannon University Social Work Club Christmas Dinner and Wellness Fair will be held in the university’s Hammermill Center, Peach Street and South Park Row, on Sunday, Dec 2. The event is FREE and open to the public. Doors will open at 10 am, and meals will be served starting at 11:15 am. Santa will arrive at 12:15 pm to meet with the children on hand and pass out gifts. The Dinner and Wellness Fair provide a full turkey dinner, Christmas presents, and clothing. In addition, representatives from local agencies and organizations will be on hand to provide attendees information on housing and human services as well as important health screenings. Last year organizers served nearly 800 meals. The university’s Student Government Association (SGA) helps fund the event. In addition, the dinner has been well supported by the local community. Gifts for Kids and Erie Insurance are among the event’s many contributors. Again, the event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, contact the Gannon University Social Work program at (814) 871-7263.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy will hold their annual Recruitment Open House on Sunday, December 2, 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Over 500 eighth graders apply for approximately 225 freshman openings making admission harder than many colleges. Admission requirements include a minimum grade point average of 3.0, national standardized test scores at the 75th percentile or above, and two teacher recommendations. Please visit the Applying section of their site to learn more about applying to NW PA Collegiate Academy.