Five year old Michael Misko of Erie PA has Adams-Oliver syndrome, a rare genetic defect that caused his scalp and skull to not form properly. Michael has had surgery 38 times in his young life. He received a Christmas vacation in Florida from Give Kids The World (GKTW), a non-profit that creates magical memories for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated tickets to Central Florida theme parks, meals and more for a week long, cost free fantasy vacation.
The anonymous donation of $100 million to the Erie Community Foundation, of which $85 million will go 46 nonprofits in the Erie area, was chosen as one the 10 most inspirational stories of 2007 on Yahoo! News.
Highmark, the health insurer, announced that it plans to present 2008′s first newborns with Prepaid Healthcare Visa Gift Cards, Highmark’s newly announced product that provides recipients with a convenient way to cover the many costs associated with, among other life events, the arrival of a new child. Parents of babies born in Erie, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Johnstown will be among the fortunate card recipients.
David Fabrizio of Erie (Agent Fabrizio in X-Men 2 and Brutus in Superman Returns) will appear on the CBS series “Moonlight” on Friday Dec 28 at 9 pm. You can also catch Fabrizio on The X-Files late Thursday night / Friday morning at 2 am on TNT.
Creek Connections is a partnership between Allegheny College and regional K-12 schools to turn waterways in Northwest Pennsylvania, Southwest New York, and the Pittsburgh area into outdoor environmental laboratories. Emphasizing a hands-on, inquiry based investigation of local waterways, this project annually involves nearly 40 different secondary schools and the classes of 50 teachers. Laura Tuel was an intern in the program at Allegheny College and brought the idea of the program with her to Colorado with her when she became director of education at the Catamount Institute. Tuel recently led 2 half day teacher workshops on Creek Connections that were attended by 40 teachers from more than 30 schools in the Fountain Creek watershed.
It’s a bit surprising that no team has signed DE Eric Hicks (Erie Mercyhurst Prep). The NY Jets cut him on Dec 18. He spent 9 years with the Kansas City Chiefs before becoming a salary cap casualty and signing a free agent contract with the Jets.
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.
“Around The World with Disney” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse on Monday December 31 at 7:30 and Tuesday January 1 at 2 pm.
The Erie Runners Club New Year’s Day 5M Race takes place Tuesday Jan 1 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Day of race signup and packet pickup for pre-registered runners will begin at 9 am in the Rotary Pavillion near the Waterworks area.
After a two-year hiatus, Vienna in Erie returns to the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, January 1 at 3 pm. Once again, Maestro Frank Collura will conduct a 65 member Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony in an elegant program of Viennese waltzes, gallops and polkas that have delighted audiences for years. Make this grand and lively concert part of your family tradition. And, of course, enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne at intermission. To order tickets, call the box office at (814) 824-3000.
Cross-Country Skiing 101 will be held Saturday, January 5 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Weather permitting, meet at the cross-country ski concession to check out cross-country skiing. Get basic technique and skills for this exhilarating sport. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE. Rental fee only. Registration appreciated, (814) 833-7424.
For beginners and more experienced skiers wanting to know more about the winter world around them, enjoy Guided Cross-Country Skiing on Saturday, January 5 at 1 pm at Presque Isle State Park. If there is no sufficient snow, a hike will take place instead. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE, rental fee only. Meet at the cross-country ski concession.
There will be a Snowshoe Building Workshop on Saturday, January 5 at 9 am to 3 pm at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle. Build your own snowshoes – great to use, hang on the wall, or pass along for generations. $155 fee, registration required, call (814) 833-7424.
The 25th annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie PA on Friday, January 18 and Saturday January 18, 2008 at the Gannon University Hammermill Center. St Edward of Lakewood Ohio, Rice High School of NYC, Saint Patrick of Elizabeth NJ and Erie Cathedral Prep are in the powerful field. Adult General Admission tickets are $7 and Student General Admission are tickets are $5. Reserved tickets are $12.50.
Daniel S Mead, president of Verizon Services Corp, will discuss how creation of a centralized business services unit saved the telecommunications giant $562 million in one year during an upcoming presentation for the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Mead, a Warren native and member of the college’s Council of Fellows, will speak at 6 pm on Tuesday, January 22, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Admission to his talk is free and open to the public.
The 14th annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Women’s and Girl’s Hockey Tournament will be held in Erie February 8-10, 2008. Admission is FREE to all games. About 1,000 young ladies plus family and friends will be in town for the weekend. Hotel rooms will be hard to come by and expect delays at restaurants. Who was Sarah Backstrom? She was a feisty red headed defensewoman who gave all off her love of the game and passion to play it to the Erie Lady Lions. Sarah fought every battle to the end, with passion and determination. The Erie Lady Lions lost Sarah to Leukemia but have never lost her spirit.
The Association of Program Members (APM) of General Electric Transportation in Erie PA announced that it will be sponsoring the 13th Annual Winter Wishes Benefit Gala for the Foundation of Western Pennsylvania on February 16, 2008. Each year, the members of APM reach out to the community to collect donations for the silent auctions, live auctions and raffles that are held at the event. They also solicit “table sponsors” from local businesses. As a table sponsor, the business’ name appears on the centerpiece showing their support for this wonderful event as well as in any promotional materials that they put together for the function. The money raised with the auctioned items donated by local businesses will help provide funding for Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Community support of this event is recognition of the importance of this cause are greatly appreciated. Along with your assistance, GE will be able to make an impact on the day-to-day life of children whose lives are threatened.
The GE (NYSE: GE) 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on April 23, 2008 in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center.
