Scores of people in the Erie area have called off work with symptoms of the flu and other illnesses. Most will head to Presque Isle State Park for ‘treatment.’ The forcast for today is sunny with a high temperature approaching the record of 95 degrees.

The Community Blood Bank is air conditioned and can take some of your hot blood. The blood shortage in our area turned critical for type O suddenly with extraordinarily heavy blood use by local patients over the past 24 hours. A Positive still remains critical. All blood types are needed. The blood bank ‘barrowed’ 30 units of A Positive blood from the Central Blood Bank in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and that blood is already gone. “We have been struggling, but it hasn’t been that bad until now,” stated Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “We really want a big wave of generous people to give blood and end this shortage.” All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9 am – 12:30 pm. Photo ID required.

Barry Casselman of Preludium News Service recommended running mates for each of the presidential candidates – Tom Ridge of Erie for Senator John McCain and Senator Joe Biden for Senator Barack Obama. Casselman is a native of Erie.

Help Support Vitamin D’ Deficiency and Breast Cancer Research Erie! Please help the North American effort to fund the continuation of research which now shows that Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to a significantly elevated risk of breast cancer. The campaign — called D-Feat Breast Cancer — is being supported by members of the Erie community and we are asking for your help to donate $1 to $5 to support Vitamin D – breast cancer research. Sun Your Buns Luxury Tanning salons in the Erie area, is giving away a free packet of premium indoor tanning lotion for every person who donates $5 towards Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Research. In addition to the free tanning lotion, the donator will also receive a pink wrist band with the words “Support Vitamin D’ and Breast Cancer Research”. The Support Vitamin D’ and Breast Cancer Research campaign will go on until supplies last, so stop by a Sun Your Buns near you and help us all get closer to finally finding the cure for breast cancer. Sun Your Buns Locations: Peach and Kuntz Rd, K-Mart Plaza-Buffalo Rd, 3431 W 26th St, W 38th and Pittsburgh Ave, and 6335 W Ridge Rd. For more information on Vitamin D’ and Breast Cancer Research please visit: www.vitaminDcouncil.org.

The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) proudly introduces expanded service in the southern corridor that will enhance service to the VA Medical Center and add service to the Presque Isle Downs and Casino. The adjustments are as follows: Route 27 will travel from the Intermodal Center to the VA Medical Center and continue on to Presque Isle Downs and Casino seven days a week. There will be service adjustments to Routes 23 and M1 on weekdays to accommodate the changes to Route 27. There will be a change on Route 23 to service the Cidermill and Grandview areas. Minor route changes for Routes 26 and 15 to serve the East 38th Street and Bird Drive areas will be made. There will also be a service interval change on Route 24. A press conference to dedicate the service changes will be held on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 10:00 am.

Holly Welker, a teacher of creative writing at Penn State Erie, is taking part in an academic conference on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and other Josh Whedon works at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, SC3: The Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses

Billy Hinglebrok of Erie County lit a ceremonial flame at the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games taking place in state College, PA.

The Erie SeaWolves fell in the rubber game of a three-game series at Hadlock Field, 3-1, at the hands of the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday afternoon. The SeaWolves travel to Manchester, New Hampshire to take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in a three-game weekend series. Friday with a 7:05 first pitch it’s RHP Josh Rainwater (3-2, 6.16 ERA) vs LHP AJ Wideman (3-7, 6.21 ERA).

The Erie Bayhawks of the NBA Developmental League will be hosting their first ever Fanfest, Saturday, June 14, 2-7 pm at the Tullio Arena. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. “This is a fun event for the whole family,” said Bayhawks President Ron Sertz. “This will be the first chance to see the arena laid out for a Bayhawks game and the kids will be able to shoot around and play on some of the games featured at the Cavaliers fan experience.”

Now on view at the Erie Art Museum is Icons, new work by Jim Munn in the Museum’s Frame Shop Gallery, 423 State Street, through August 9, 2008. A public reception is scheduled to be held during Gallery Night, Friday, June 13, 2008 from 7-10 pm.

The Gannon University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on Friday, June 6 will host its 18th annual Small Business Awards luncheon and program. The event will be held at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center, 7794 Peach Street, and will begin with a networking session from 11-11:30 am. The lunch portion of the program will be held from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 pm, followed by the Awards Program at 12:15 pm. The businesses to be honored are (and their categories): New Start-Up Business of the Year: Hertel and Brown Physical and Aquatic Therapy, PC; Community/Residential Service Business of the Year: Bella Salon and Day Spa; Manufacturing Business of the Year: CSI Industries, Inc; Agribusiness of the Year: Al’s Melons Farm Market and Greenhouse; Technology Business of the Year: Velocity Network; Professional Business Services of the Year: Inscale Architects; Retail Business of the Year: Isaac Baker Menswear; Environmental Business of the Year: Engineered Plastics, Inc; and President’s Award: Christopher Snyder, CEO, Spectrum eCommerce (formerly linkvalu.com.). The guest speaker for the event will be Scott Klososky, thought leader, author, and former CEO of three companies. His keynote address is titled “Trends and Technology – Insights to Help your Organization Break Through.” Tickets for the event are $40 per person, or $365 for a table of 10. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Michele Szymanowski at (814) 871-SBDC (7232), or via email at szymanow004@gannon.edu.

The Manufacturers’ Association of Northwest Pennsylvania will host the first of its three-part “Presidential Luncheon Series – The Race for ’08″ starting at 11:30 am Friday, June 6, at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street. With the 2008 presidential election shaping up to be one for the history books, the Manufacturers’ Association Government Affairs department will host a series of three luncheon meetings with a group of highly acclaimed political analysts to cut through the rhetoric and get to the heart of the issues facing America. The first luncheon, “The Road to the White House,” will feature Erie native Steve Scully, C-SPAN’s senior executive producer and political editor in Washington. He will focus on the impact of early primary dates as well as the long-term impact of what some analysts are calling the longest campaign in history. To register for this luncheon, click here or contact Tracy Shepard at (814) 833-3200 or (800) 815-2660. Cost is $35 for each presentation and includes lunch.

Designed especially for 3-5 year olds and an accompanying adult, Outside the Window is an interactive program to get kids in touch with all of the nature of Presque Isle State Park. On Friday, June 6, meet at the Stull Interpretive Center. $2 donation, registration required. Choose either 10 am – 11:30 am or 1 pm – 2:30 pm. Call (814) 833-7424 to register.

The Erie Playhouse production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure runs June 6-22. The world’s greatest detective takes on one last case in this spirited, fast-moving, theatrical adaptation complete with all the elements that fans of his exploits have come to expect: danger, intrigue, wit, humor and surprise. Performances at 7:30 pm with Sunday matinee shows at 2 pm.

Erie Chamber Orchestra presents “Tribute to the Music of Wolfgang A. Mozart” with Guest Director Arthur Martone on Friday June 6 at St Patrick’s Church, 130 East 4th St in Erie. The concert is FREE and open to the public. Show time is 7:30 pm.

The 2008 Erie Admirals Flagship Cup will once again be held at the host venues of Family First Sports Park and Edinboro University. Over 200 U9-U19 soccer teams are expected which takes place June 7-8. Pedro Argaez and Ed Shearman are the tournament directors.

On Saturday, June 7, 2008 there will be a Nautical Flea Market from 10 am to 1 pm at the BCMS (Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies) 40 Holland Street, Erie, PA. The event is FREE and is held in conjunction with Erie Safe Boating Day. All boaters (power/sail) are welcome. Tables for selling nautical wares are available FREE of charge but table reservations MUST be made by calling Linda Dunbar before May 28th at (814) 456-9060. A bulletin board will also be available to post items too large to display.

Help support Read To Rebound and have a blast doing it. On June 7, many of the downtown Erie Bars will be hosting a pool tournament. No prior experience necessary – slop counts. A $20 donation to Read To Rebound gets you a scorecard, a T-shirt, and a chance to win all kinds of prizes. Just download a registration form for details and rules. Read to Rebound is a non-profit organization committed to making sure that no child has to face the challenges of life on their own. Through a series of books, an interactive website, and community resources, Read to Rebound will share the true stories of people who have faced, and overcome, adversity in their lives. By sharing these stories, Read to Rebound hopes to provide a compass for children navigating the difficult roadmap of life.

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.

Penn State Behrend will host its second international conference on injection molding, “Injection Molding: Innovation and Emerging Technologies,” from June 10-12. The three-day conference will feature 24 technical presentations, offered concurrently in the mornings, and hands-on tutorials in the afternoons. Two keynote speakers will address attendees on Wednesday and Thursday – Rob Neilley, editor-in-chief of Injection Molding Magazine, and William Carteaux, president and CEO of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc, respectively. On Tuesday, all are invited to tour the local Rehrig Pacific Company plant, located at 1738 W 20th Street in Erie. Advance registration for the conference if required.

Reducing the costs of your compressed air system and an overview of energy tax incentives are two topics the Energy Roundtable will tackle during their next quarterly meeting. The Energy Roundtable was formed in 2007 to help business, industry and other large energy users (such as schools and healthcare facilities) in northwest Pennsylvania reduce energy costs through improved energy management, energy efficiency and cutting edge technology. The group was initiated through a collaborative effort of the Manufacturers’ Association, the NW PA Industrial Resource Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, Penelec and the NW Rural Electric Cooperative. The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at 301 Peninsula Drive in Erie. Registration is at 8:45 am, with the program running from 9 am to noon. The agenda for the meeting includes: Reducing the Costs of Your Compressed Air System and Energy Tax Incentives. “Energy issues continue to be on the front burner for most of our members,” said Manufacturers’ Association Director of Government Affairs Sheila Sterrett. “This roundtable has provided a forum for large energy users to gather and share information and participation has increased with each subsequent meeting.” To register, call (814) 456-6299, fax (814) 459-6058 or e-mail jmiller@nwirc.org. There is no charge for the event.

The first Erie Downtown Partnership Block Party of 2008 will be held Thursday June 12 on the 1300 block of State Street in front of Calamari’s Squid Row. The event is FREE. Food and beverages will be available for sale. One World Tribe will provide the music.

The 84th annual Lake City Fire Company Carnival will be held June 12-14 in Lake City, PA.

Gallery Night, which is organized by the Erie Art Museum, features FREE public touring of 12 local galleries and gallery activities, on Friday June 13, 2008 from 7 to 10 pm. Galleries that will be participating are Accents By The Bay, Allen Stoneware Gallery, Artworks Gallery and Clayspace Studio, Bayfront Gallery, Geary’s Studio 7, Glass Growers Gallery, Kada Gallery, Kuhn’s Framing and Gift Gallery, Ralph Miller Jewelers and Gallery, Relish Inc. Studio and Gallery, Urraro Gallery and the galleries at the Erie Art Museum. EMTA’s Bayliner will be providing FREE shuttle transportation from 7 to 10:30 pm. Trolley maps and schedules are available at each gallery or by calling the Erie Art Museum at (814) 459-5477. Participating galleries will be offering visitors a chance to win a $50 gift certificate as an incentive to attract patrons into touring their galleries.

The 2008 Brianlee Crosby Memorial Learn to Swim Program, sponsored by the City of Erie Summer Recreation Program and operated by the American Red Cross, Greater Erie County Chapter, will be held June 16 to August 8. Qualifications: All boys and girls enrolled in the first through sixth grades may participate in the program. PROOF of grade level must be presented at the time of registration. The program is FREE to City of Erie School District students. A parent or legal guardian must accompany each child to complete the registration form at the appropriate pool on the first day of each two week instructional period. Parents or guardians are also responsible for their child’s attendance and transportation needs. Appropriate swimming attire and cleanliness will be required at all pools in operation. Pre-registration: Pre-registration will begin at 10 am on the morning of the first day of each session (June 16, June 30, July 14, July 28) at the Strong Vincent High School pool and the Central Tech High School pool. Children should come prepared to take their water skills tests in order to determine the appropriate level of instruction for them. Certification: All boys and girls enrolled will receive progress reports and an appropriate Red Cross certificate for satisfactory completion of their course. Observation days will be held on the last day of each session for all parents who wish to see the progress that their children have made in the course. Session Dates (Monday – Friday): Session I June 16 – June 27, Session II June 30 – July 11 (Closed July 4th), Session III July 14 – July 25, Session IV July 28 – Aug 8. Sessions begin at: 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, Open Swim (For students enrolled in lessons; NOT open to public) from 2:30-3:30 pm. Open Swim: Open swim will be available at the Roger Young Pool Monday through Saturday from 12-5 pm. (June 16 – August 8) (Closed July 4th). For more information on training courses offered by your American Red Cross, call the Greater Erie County Chapter at 833-0942 ext 243.

It is no secret that Marketing and IT professionals come from very different backgrounds and work in very different ways. However, in today’s fast paced world of digital marketing and increasingly important online customer experiences, it is imperative that these two groups come together. They need to collaborate in order to rise above the competition and reach the maximum potential of the organization’s online presence. The eMarketing Special Interest Group and the eMarketing Learning Center are offering Aligning Marketing and IT for Online Success on Wednesday, June 18 at Knowledge Park in Erie. Register Now.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) will hold a Summer On Campus Day, 1 pm – 4:30 pm on Friday, June 20 to provide opportunities for prospective students to tour the campus facilities and learn about the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy Program and the Health Sciences Post Baccalaureate Program. Please confirm your attendance for the event with Maggie Crosswhite or Camille Jennings.

Gannon University Writers’ Workshops 2008 are for students Grades 4-12. Develop your writing process and produce a book of your writing under the direction of Dr Sally LeVan and the teachers of the NWPA Writing Project. Each session will be limited to 25 students per session. Dates are June 23-27, July 7-11 and July 21-25. Workshops will be held 9 am to 12 pm in Room 3200 of the Palumbo Center, 8th and Peach Streets. Registration includes T-shirt, snacks and book. $125 per one-week session/$200 for two-weeks. For information contact Dr Sally LeVan, (814) 871-7506. Registration.

The Saint Vincent Auxiliary presents “A Night at the Races” on Wednesday, June 25 at Presque Isle Downs Clubhouse and Lounge. The event is from 4:30 pm – 9 pm. Each attendee will receive $10 in gaming tokens, a four-course meal in the Clubhouse, and a chance to gamble the night away while learning more about the Children’s Miracle Network. For questions and/or RSVP, please contact Stephanie Flanagan at (814) 452-5302.

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts will be held June 27-29 at Liberty Park.

Erie’s gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community will come together the weekend of June 28-29 to celebrate Pride 2008 with a picnic, march/rally, and social opportunities. Festivities get underway Saturday, June 28, with the Pride Erie Picnic at Rotary Pavilion, Beach 7 at Presque Isle State Park. The Pride Picnic runs from 1-6 pm with food being served from 2-4 pm. The Pride March will step off from The Zone Dance Club at 1 pm. Sunday, June 29, with the Pride Rally beginning in Perry Square at 2 pm. Information about the Erie area Pride March/Rally is available at www.ErieGayPride.org, by email at eriegaypride@gmail.com, or by calling 866-229-1974 (toll free).

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.

The Manufacturers’ Association and Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally will be held July 17-20, 2008. While downtown Erie serves as the hub of the rally, related events take place throughout the city and region. Most notably, two outdoor concerts featuring major artists will be held Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, at Liberty Park along Presque Isle Bay.

The 2008 City of Erie Junior Golf Program is open to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 17. Entry fee is $7 per person. The number of entrants will determine the number of divisions. Registration will take place at J C Martin Golf Course from June 1 through July 19. Please call J C Martin Golf Course at 864-1821 with any questions. Tournament 1 is at J C Martin Golf Course, West 38th St and Shunpike Rd (next to Erie Zoo), on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 am. Tournament 2 will be held at Downing Golf Course, 1351 Troupe Rd, 899-5827, on Wednesday, July 30 at 8:30 am. Tournament 2 will be immediately followed by a picnic and an awards presentation.

The Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm 2008 Native American Festival is July 26-27 at the farm in Edinboro. Hours are 11-6 daily. Admission is $3 per person, 3 and under are FREE.

The Gannon University ShakeXperience Theater Camp will be held Monday, July 28 through Saturday, August 2. This one-week resident high school (through graduation) theater camp is taught by members of Gannon’s theater program and qualified professionals. Classes are conducted in Shakespeare, text analysis, stage movement, rehearsal and performance. Workshops are offered in stage combat, period dance, and music. Includes a public matinee performance of CYMBELINE as part of the Shakespeare SummerNights outdoor threatre festival. Cost: $99 (includes room, board, and instruction fee). For more information, contact Fr Shawn Clerkin, (814) 871-7493.

The 2008 City of Erie Recreation Tennis Tournaments will be held once again at
Frontier Park. Junior: June 24-27, Adult: August 13-17. Applications are available at: PennBriar Health and Tennis Club, Westwood Racquet Club, Lake Shore Country Club, Kahkwa Club and Erie Sport Store’s downtown location. For more information contact Richard Beck at 835-5452.