This is the first day of Fall in the southern hemisphere and the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere. With an inch of fresh snow, it makes you wonder what season it actually is. The best four days of the year start today with the NCAA basketball tournament. Erie Blogs has a Tournament Pick’em group on Yahoo. It’s free to join in the fun. You bracket must be completed before the first game starts at noon.
His is 6′ 2, 175 lbs with brown hair and eyes. If you have seen him or have information contact Millcreek Police at (814) 833-7777 or the Center For Missing and Exploited Children at (800) THE-LOST (800-843-5678).
This year’s group of honorees includes: Monica Brower, President and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Erie County; Jennifer Dobbs Woods, MPA, Leadership Giving Coordinator for the United Way of Erie County; John Elliott, Executive Director of the Erie Redevelopment Authority; Jessica Horan-Kunco, Erie City Councilwoman and Bookkeeper to Kunco Landscape Design and Maintenance; Jeffrey Natalie, LSW, founder of ErieKIDS, a local non-profit that benefits children who face emotional and mental health issues, part-time instructor in Edinboro University of Pennsylvania’s Social Work Graduate Program, and President and CEO of J Michael Films; Michele-Marie Schroeck, YMCA of Greater Erie; Nick Schultz, Director of Economic and Workforce Development Services for Strategy Solutions; Traci Teudhope, Education and Outreach Manager for WQLN;and Tim Wachter, attorney with Knox McLaughlin Gornall and Sennett.
“schism” is the story of one man’s descent into Alzheimer’s dementia. (Note- it’s not about any member of Erie City Council, past or present.) The movie by John C Lyons of Lyons Den Productions has it’s premier at Louis C Cole Memorial Auditorium on the campus of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on Thursday, April 17 at 8 pm. You can purchase tickets for $5 right now. They go up to $7 the week of the premiere. John uploaded a couple of clips (Clip 1, Clip 2) on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. They’re pretty darn good.
The Save the Villa Chapel Committee is hosting their 3rd Annual Easter Rally on Sunday, March 23 from 1-2 pm at the corner of 9th and Liberty. The Save the Villa Chapel committee continues to be optimistic that an Adaptive Reuse Study for this magnificent structure will take place. Pennrose CEO, Mr. Mark Dambly, the 80 perent owner, signed an agreement approving this action. The committee is awaiting signatures from the Sisters of Saint Joseph and HANDS. Supporters have raised $15,000 and earned a 2007 Preservation Initiative Award from the Erie County Historical Society. The committee has funded initial roof repairs, put up a website and now plan to hire experts to complete an Adaptive Reuse Study. Tax deductible donations can be made by sending checks in any amount to: Villa Chapel Fund c/o ECHS, 419 State St, Erie, PA 16501. (This fund is not associated with the SSJ organization.).
Kendell Auto Parts in Erie received a state Environmental Excellence Award. Kendell Auto Parts is an automotive and truck recycling facility that has made it its mission to reduce pollution to zero; to reduce, recycle and reuse everything; and to reduce and conserve energy and water. In addition to being built on a brownfields site, Kendall’s porous parking lots are made from recycled aggregate, the landscaping materials were retrieved from construction sites, steel fencing was salvaged from demolished sites, stormwater runoff is channeled into swales and held in a retention pond, and the loading dock leveler was removed from a building that was to be demolished and reinstalled in its current location. Inside, the building’s sub-base is made from recycled aggregate, floors have radiant heat with individual temperature controls, large windows in public spaces make use of natural light, Energy Star lighting is zone switchable, and floor drains are connected to an oil/water separator before discharging the sewer. Even the furnishings in the showroom, counter area and offices are recycled or were retrieved from other facilities that were to be demolished. The glass-top tables are made from aluminum wheels and tires from new cars that were in a train wreck. Kendall’s indoor automobile recycling operation practices zero discharge of all fluids, including engine oil, gasoline, antifreeze and air conditioning refrigerants. The oil is used as a source of supplementary heat. The antifreeze is recycled by a licensed waste/water treatment company. The tires are disposed of by a licensed waste tire company and the gas that is pumped from the vehicles’ gas tanks is circulated through filters and used for the company’s delivery trucks.
The Mercyhurst women’s lacrosse team scored at least 20 goals for the second time this season, defeating Seton Hill 23-9 Wednesday on the road. Ten different players scored at least one goal for the eighth-ranked team in Division II.
The Manchester Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, signed defenseman Josh Kidd to an amateur tryout agreement, Monarchs Director of Hockey Operations Hubie McDonough announced. Kidd played the last four season with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
The St Martin Center is holding a FREE Homebuying Seminar. You can learn: How to read loan documents; What you can afford; About the relationships and paperwork involved with real estate transactions; What predatory lending is; How to budget; and What happens at a closing. Sessions will be held on 4 consecutive Wednesdays 6-8 pm beginning March 26 at the St Martin Center, 1701 Parade Street in Erie. Registration required by calling (814) 452-6113 ext 121.
On Friday, March 21, 6 to 9 pm, Glass Growers Gallery presents its spring exhibit “Photo and Fiber”: Fine Art Photographs by Greg Zbach and Felted Handbags by Betty Rositer. The artists’ reception is open to the public. The exhibit is open from March 21 to April 29, 2008. Glass Growers Gallery is located at 10 East Fifth Street in Erie.
Cure those winter doldrums by learning to throw a pot at the Erie Art Museum’s ClaySpace Open Studio at 1505 State Street, 3rd floor, on Friday, March 21. Instruction is $6 per person and is on a first come first served basis. Complimentary pizza will be served. Demonstration and workshop sessions are at 6:30, 7:15 and 8 pm. Erie Art Museum instructors will introduce participants to the art of wheel throwing. Stop by and try the wheel, wear old clothes and shoes, and be prepared to get a little messy. All ages are welcome.
The Allegheny College Art Department will present its annual Student Show, an exhibition open to all Allegheny College students, in the Bowman, Penelec and Megahan Galleries from Tuesday, March 25 through Wednesday, April 16. The opening of the exhibit will be celebrated with a public reception in the Art Galleries on Tuesday, March 25 from 7 to 9 pm. The Doane Prize awards will be presented at 8 pm. The Student Show, featuring works in a variety of media, is juried by a professional artist and educator. This year’s juror is Mark Franchino, gallery director and assistant professor of art at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Given that current trends in higher education reflect enrollment numbers that skew in favor of women, it can be surprising, especially for today’s students, to learn that as late as the 1950s experts fretted about the wisdom of permitting women on college campuses. Author Lynn Peril, whose writing takes a witty look at women’s history through popular culture and advertising from the turn of the century through the 1970s and beyond, will visit Allegheny College to help the women’s studies department celebrate 25 years at the college. In addition to talking to students in a number of classes during her campus visit, Peril will present on Wednesday, March 26 a FREE public lecture based on her most recent book, “College Girls: Bluestockings, Sex Kittens, and Coeds, Then and Now.” The talk will be held at 7:30 pm in Quigley Auditorium and will be followed by a book signing and reception.
Are you ready to take your company global? The Web is an opportunity to expand your market reach without ever leaving your office. Register for “Globalizing Your Web Site,” presented by eBizITPA and the Gannon University SBDC on March 27 in Erie, PA. Discover the economic benefits of reaching and selling to international markets, and take your business to the next level.
After Pluto’s discovery in 1930, astronomers began wondering if this eccentric dwarf might be a member of a large population of similar objects. Sixty-two years passed before the discovery of a second body in orbit beyond Neptune, the blandly named but fascinating 1992 QB1. Another 1,000 similar objects have been found since, forming what’s come to be called the Kuiper Belt. Keith Noll, PhD, principal investigator of the Hubble Heritage Project at the Space Telescope Science Institute, will lead a tour of this weird and wonderful addition to our solar system during the next Open House Night in Astronomy at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. “The Kuiper Belt: The Solar System’s Frigid Edge” takes place on Thursday, March 27, beginning with a talk by Noll at 7:30 pm in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building and followed by astronomical viewing from the college’s Mehalso Observatory, weather permitting. The event is FREE and open to the public.
Literary nonfiction writer Joe Mackall will read from his works at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, March 27. Mackall’s public reading is part of the college’s Creative Writer’s Speaker Series. The reading begins at 6 pm in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel; a 4:30 pm reception for Mackall in the chapel’s first-floor meeting area precedes the reading. Both events are FREE and open to the public.
All An Act Productions presents Edward Albee’s ” Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” March 28-April 20. Adults tickets are $8 with students and seniors at $5. Show times are at 7:30 with special Sunday matinees at 3 pm on April 6 and 20. This show contains mature language and situations that some may find offensive. It carries an “R” rating.
The seventh annual Social Work Conference on Mental Health, presented by the Gannon University Social Work program and the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, will be held Friday, March 28. Registrations still are being accepted; the event will be held in the Waldron Center. The cost is $40 and includes lunch and seven continuing education credits. Topics for the day include mental wellness, managed care, dual diagnosis, childhood mental health, advocacy and activism for mental health consumers, and mental health and aging. For more information, contact Lori Jasinski at (814) 871-7263 or Parris Baker at (814) 871-7781.
As the signature event for Young Erie Professionals (yep!), the Generation-E Leadership Awards recognize young professionals who are paving the way to the future of Erie, Pennsylvania. Yep! has honored 34 individuals over the past three years who not only have chosen to live, work, and play in the Erie area, but who have made a lasting impact on our region. The 2008 winners will be recognized the evening of Friday, March 28 at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center.
The Erie Playhouse Youtheatre presents Around the World in 80 Days March 28-30, April 4-6. Adapted from the novel by Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days, delightfully tells the story of Phileas Fogg’s and his servant, Passepartout’s, whistle-stop journey, as they try to satisfy a wager that they can circumnavigate the world in eighty days. Performances on March 28 and 29, as well as April 4 and 5 will begin at 7 pm. Performances on March 20 and April 6 will begin at 2 pm.
Erie Gymnastics Center is the host for the Pennsylvania Level 9 and 10 State Gymnastics Championships which will be held at Family First Sports Park, 8155 Oliver Road in Erie on March 29-30.
Allegheny College’s 7th Annual Executive Roundtable will take place on Monday, March 31, from 4 to 5:30 pm in the Tillotson Room of the Tippie Alumni Center at Cochran Hall. The event is hosted by the college’s Department of Economics and is titled “Health Care Costs: American Business Crisis.” The event is free and open to the public.
The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission is holding an informal and relaxed FREE breakfast roundtable to hear from international marketing professionals. I will be held 8-9 am on Tuesday April 1 at Knowledge Park Center, 5240 Knowledge Parkway in Erie, PA. The following 5 topics are for discussion: Attorney Jon L Woodard on Intellectual Property and Technology for patents, trademark, copyright and trade secret law; Carver International, Inc on international freight; M and T Bank on export credit insurance; Newbridge Group on marketing opportunities in doing business with Russia; and PA Center for Trade Development and Northwest Commission on Pennsylavania is the Premier State for Export Assistance on assistance available to expand your business in the international arena. Contact Lori Kenyon to register, or phone (814) 677-4800 Ext 104.
The Penn State Behrend Concert Band’s upcoming “Evening of Musical Tomfoolery” will be held, appropriately, on Tuesday, April 1. The fun begins at 8 pm in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission is FREE. The concert band will perform a selection of witty, whimsical pieces under the direction of Gary Viebranz, director of instrumental music at the college. On the program are works by Leopold Mozart, PDQ Bach (“the 21st of JS Bach’s 20 children”), film composers Danny Elfman and Luis Bonfa, and percussionist Lamar Burkhalter, who also holds the title of musical director for the NFL’s Houston Texans. “We’re presenting this concert in the spirit of April Fool’s Day, so we also have several surprises in store,” Viebranz promises.
The Edinboro Film Series, in cooperation with The Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program, Eerie Horror Film Festival, Edinboro University Student Government Association, Cinemark, and Lyons Den Productions, is pleased to announce its event for spring 2008. A special advance screening “The Ruins” will be shown on Thursday April 3 at 8 pm at the Tinseltown Theater, 1910 Rotunda Drive in Erie. Tickets are FREE for EUP students and $5 for General Public. Tickets are available at EdinboroTickets.com.
Internationally known bioethicist Dr Stephen Post will visit Mercyhurst College on April 3 to discuss his most recent book, “Why Good Things Happen to Good People.” The book, written with science journalist Jill Niemark, is subtitled “The Exciting New Science That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life.” The presentation begins at 8:15 pm in Walker Recital Hall at Mercyhurst, and is free and open to the public.
Modern rockers Third Eye Blind bring their semi-charmed musical sensibilities and monster alternative hits to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Friday, April 4. The concert begins at 8 pm in the college’s Junker Center with an opening act to be announced. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets cost $20 for the public and $15 for Penn State Behrend students (two per ID) and can be purchased online, at the Reed Union Building main desk, or over the phone with a credit card by calling the Office of Student Activities, (814) 898-6171.
From the creator of “Buddy Holly: The Day The Music Died” and in association with the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art, the Great Lakes Film Association announces The Man In Black, The Johnny Cash Show. The Man In Black production was a labor of love and respect that will star local Erie celebrity Shannon Solo and was designed to celebrate the music and the man who is widely considered to be one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century. The Man In Black musical production will enjoy a short run with only eight performances with opening night being Friday April 4 at 8 pm to be followed by a reception and then continuing on Saturday April 5, Thursday April 10, Friday April 11, Saturday April 12, Thursday April 17, Friday April 18, and will close on Saturday April 19. The final performance will include a closing night party. Show times for each of the limited run performances will be 8pm with doors opening at 7:30 pm. Ticket prices will range from $10 to $15 depending on seating preference. Advance ticket sales and reservations will be available starting on Friday March 21st by visiting TheTheatre145.com or by calling (814) 879-0733 or 814-873-5069.
KaleidAScope, Inc, The Child and Family Guidance Center of Erie, the Northwestern Pennsylvania Autism Society (NWPA-ASA), and ARC of Erie County will be hosting the first annual Autism in Our Community event on April 5, 2008 at the Greene Township Building, 9333 Tate Rd in Erie. KaleidAScope, Inc is a local non-profit agency establishing services for individuals with High Functioning Autism / Asperger’s Syndrome from the ages of 15 to adulthood. Child and Family Guidance Center of Erie provides individual, group, and family therapy, specializing in families/children on the Autism Spectrum. NWPA-ASA is our local Erie chapter for the Autism Society of America and has made strides in the Erie community in establishing awareness of Autism Spectrum disorders. The Arc of Erie County is a large advocacy group that promotes community inclusion to citizens with disabilities. The focus of this event is to provide information about the goods and services available to families influenced by, and managing, autism in their lives. The event is funded by a grant from the NWPA-ASA. The event will be held from 12-4 pm. Each agency and organization will provide a table highlighting their services as related to autism. Presentations will occur by local providers every half hour beginning at 12:30 and ending at 3 pm. The event will conclude with networking opportunities for families with local providers, agencies, organizations. Light snacks and beverages will be provided, as well as opportunities for families to win gift baskets. There is no cost to families to attend this special day. For additional information and to RSVP, please contact: Jennifer Do 814-824-4515, ext 93.
The Erie Art Museum will offer a henna body art workshop on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 1-4 pm at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 20 East 5th Street. “We are so excited to offer the public an opportunity to learn about this ancient temporary tattoo tradition. Erie’s best henna practitioners from Somalia, Sudan, and India will be on hand to apply a beautiful henna tattoo or visitors can learn how to apply one themselves,” said Kelly Armor Erie Art Museum Director of Education and Folk Art. The art of henna, or mehndi, is thousands of years old. A reddish dye extracted from the henna plant is applied, often with elaborate designs, to the hands and feet. Women across Africa, the Middle East, and India paint themselves with henna as part of social celebrations. In many cultures the bride is adorned with especially intricate patterns for her wedding night. The tattoo is temporary and usually lasts two weeks. “Erie now boasts several henna experts. Gannon has a large population of Indian students including several who are adept at henna. Erie is also home to many Somali and Sudanese women who learned the art traditionally, from other women, in their native countries,” said Armor. Registration is required by calling 814.459.5477 or visiting online at www.erieartmuseum.org. Cost is $12 for non-members and $10 for Erie Art Museum Members.
Calling all artists and those who love art! A community art show, “Throughout The Spectrum: Exploring Autism Through Art,” will be sponsored by the Barber National Institute in commemoration of Autism Awareness Month. The show, which provides an exciting opportunity to come together to discover all aspects of autism through various forms of artistic expression, will be held April 4-9 at the Barber National Institute. Who can submit art work include: Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders who want to share their creative work; Family members or professionals whose lives are touched by autism; and Artists from the community who want to show their support for autism. Entries will be accepted on Friday, March 14 and Monday, March 17 from 9 am – 4 pm, and on Saturday, March 15 from 9 am – noon in the north lobby of the Barber National Institute. The art show will be open for public viewing in the north complex of the Barber National Institute on Friday, April 4, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7, 8, and 9, from 9 am – 4 pm, and on Sunday, April 6, from 1-4 pm. Admission is FREE – all are encouraged to attend! For more information about making a submission, including an entry form, please call (814) 878-5903, or click here.
The Mercyhurst College Social Work Department and Art Education Club will partner again on Sunday, April 6, to host the third annual Empty Bowls Meal and Auction from 3 to 5:30 pm at the Masonic Temple, 32 West Eighth St. For a $15 donation, guests receive a simple meal of soup, along with bread and beverage, and then have the pleasure of selecting a bowl from hundreds of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted bowls donated by student artists from Mercyhurst College and Mercyhurst Prep. Festivities also include an auction, which begins at 4:15 pm, and live entertainment. Although tickets for the event are $15 apiece, meal-only tickets for children (no bowl) are available for $3. Please call Shirley Greene at (814) 824-2266 to order tickets in advance so as to ensure enough bowls for everyone. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door. For more information, email Abbey Bloomquist or phone her at (814) 824-3667.
Michael Acri Boxing Promotions presents the 2008 debut of undefeated former IBF lightweight champion “The Pittsburgh Kid” Paul Spadafora. Returning to the ring for the first time in over a year, Spadafora (40-0-1), fighting in a 10-round welterweight bout against an opponent to be named shortly, headlines a six-bout card at The Avalon Hotel in Erie, PA (16 West 10th Street) on Sunday, April 6, beginning at 2 pm. Tickets, priced at $60 (Golden Ringside), $40 (Ringside), and $20 (General Admission), go on sale Monday March 10, and can be purchased at the Avalon Hotel, Dee’s Cigar Store, Pony Express (1903 W 8th St) and the Ringside Restaurant. The card will also feature Cincinnati super middleweight Stephan Pryor (10-3-1), Erie heavyweight Rocky Mullooly (2-1), Pittsburgh middleweight Chris Archer (9-2), and the pro debut of heavyweight Andres Taylor from Johnstown, PA.
The Erie Community Health Fair, “What’s the Buzz? Bee Your Best!” will run from 4-7 pm on Thursday April 10 at the John E Horan Community Center, 730 Tacoma Road. FREE and open to the public. The fair will focus on areas like fire safety, bicycle safety, and healthy recipes and nutrition. Attendees also will be able to partake in family-oriented fun activities, and children can play in a Dino Jump. Prizes and food provided. The event will be hosted by the Gannon University Nursing Center. For more information, call Gannon University’s Villa Maria School of Nursing at (814) 871-5523.
Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre presents “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby.” Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens by David Edgar; music and lyrics by Stephen Oliver. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Play, this extraordinary event has thrilled and delighted audiences since it first was staged 25 years ago. The performance is the story of a young gentleman, his mother, and sister who fall on hard times after the death of his father. The audience is taken on a roller coaster ride that eventually comes to a celebration of mankind’s capacity for kindness and reconciliation. The play is performed in two segments. Showtimes are: April 10: part I, 7:30 pm April 11: part II, 7:30 pm April 12: part I, 1 pm; part II, 7:30 pm April 17: part I, 7:30 pm April 18: part II, 7:30 pm April 19: part I, 1 pm; part II, 7:30 pm. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras Street. For more information, contact the Schuster Theatre box office at (814) 871-7494, or call (814) 871-7493.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: Conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright will perform in concert on Friday, April 11 at 7:30 pm at Gannon’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 512 Peach Street. The concert is FREE and open to the public. This concert will feature soloist Laura Nelson (alp horn).
The Gannon University annual English Awards Night will be held Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30 pm in the Yehl Room of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street. The event is FREE and open to the public. The winners of the High School Poetry Contest will be announced and awards will be given. In addition, Ted Kooser will be the featured speaker for the event and will read a selection of his poetry. Kooser is one of the most distinguished voices in contemporary poetry, having served as the United States Poet Laureate from 2004-06. He has published 11 books of poetry and his many awards include the Pulitzer Prize, the Pushcart Prize, the Stanley Kunitz Prize, the James Boatwright Prize, and two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. For more information, contact Berwyn Moore, associate professor, Gannon English department, at (814) 871-7504.
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.
OneRepublic and Fabolous will perform an outdoor concert on April 29 at 7 pm at the Gannon University Athletic Field. In case of rain it will be moved indoors to the Gannon Hammermill Center. Tckets go on sale Monday March 17 at GannonTickets.com.
New Found Glory will perform a concert at the Edinboro University McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday May 3 at 8 pm. Tickets are available online or at the Edinboro University Pogue Student Center SGA Convenience Store.
The charity bellydance event, “Shimmy for a Cure“, will be held May 31 at the Erie Playhouse in downtown Erie, PA. This event will benefit the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.
Head Coach John T Reilly of Gannon University will conduct three sessions of basketball camp this summer. Sessions will be held June 9-13, June 23-27 and August 4-8. His coaching staff, area high school coaches and several of his players will serve as camp instructors. The sessions are designed as teaching camps that emphasize the fundamentals of the game of basketball. The camps are for students in Grades 3-10.
There will be a Rust Belt Bloggers Summit on July 11-12 in Erie. People from Youngstown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other area cities will be attendance to discuss economic development issues in the region.
