Eight Great Tuesdays begins today and features free band entertainment on Tuesday nights at the Pepsi Amphitheater inside Liberty Park. Teenagers will be allowed to attend the event unaccompanied by an adult, but the Port Authority of Erie reserves the right to revoke that privilege if it believes teens are getting out of control. Click here for more information.

Penn State University will receive a 1.2 percent increase in state funding as a result of the new state budget approved by the Pennsylvania Legislature. University trustees are meeting in Erie this weekend to approve the institution’s budget and will set tuition rates for 2008-09. State appropriations make up less than 10 percent of Penn State’s budget.

It appears that Brittany Steward will either plead guilty or no contest to charges related to the accidental drowning deaths of two children in May 2007 (it is unclear if a deal was made with the district attorney’s office). She will go before the court on July 15 to enter her plea. At a previous hearing, Judge John Garhart asked Steward’s father to remove alcohol from his home so that she does not have access to it, due to her being pregnant. Steward’s ex-boyfriend, Daniel Potts, recently testified that he is the father of the child.

The Erie Hotline was been running non-stop, 24 hours a day for the last 37 years. Until now. They lack the volunteers to keep the hotline running, and for the first time, people who call the hotline between 8 am and 4 pm on weekdays will get a recording. The Hotline will remain in full operation nights and weekends. The hotline helps people with information, referrals to local agencies and food, shelter and medical information. The number for the hotline is 453-5656.

Golden Living will build the “nursing home of the future” at 4801 Old Zuck Road in Erie. The company will conduct a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at 11 a.m. The new facility will feature wireless internet for clinical staff and residents, therapy services on site, living communities of 20-30 people and an Alzeihmer’s care unit. It is scheduled to open in February 2010.

The Erie Art Museum’s 16th Annual Blues & Jazz Festival will be Saturday and Sunday, August 3 & 4, at Frontier Park. The two-day Festival presents national, regional and local musicians in a outdoor, family-friendly setting, so bring your blanket or lawn chair. Festival fare will be available from local vendors and restaurants, and the WQLN Kids Tent will be an ongoing event. For more information view the festival website. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please contact Sam Ansboro at Erie Art Museum by phone 814-459-5477 or email sam@erieartmuseum.org.

The 2008 North East Cherry Festival begins today and runs through July 12. Expect lots of food, rides for the kids, the Cherry Queen Pageant and a volunteer fire parade, the largest volunteer fire department parade in Pennsylvania.

State park officials announced that due to the Sand Replenishment Project at Presque Isle, Beaches 9 and 10 will be closed through Thursday of this week but will reopen on Friday. All other beaches remain open as posted.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have rejected the latest proposed English translation of the liturgical prayers from the Roman Missal. Bishop Donald Trautman of the Erie Diocese has criticized portions the new translations as using archaic language unfriendly to the majority of church goers. For now it seems Bishop Trautman has support among his brother bishops.

The NFL Munchkins Flag Football League is holding a benefit dinner today from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hoagie Hut in Corry, Pa. Proceeds will be used for the league’s operating expenses with registration also taking place for boys and girls in kindergarten through 3rd grade (cost $10). For more information, visit CorryFootball.com.

The Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF) has a number of events and movies planned for the summer running from July 17 to August 15. Thursdays, starting at 7 p.m., music will be played at the Amphitheater located at 6th Street and Frontier Drive. Friday nights at dusk, a family friendly movie will be played. LEAF’s mission is to expand the Arboretum at Frontier Park, as well as provided related recreational and educational programs for the community.

The Erie Philharmonic’s Get Your Phil At Noon Summer Music Series FREE concerts will be held July 8 and August 12 at noon in front of the Warner Theater on State Street. The free lunch-hour ensemble concerts, designed to provide “music while you munch,” will feature a Philharmonic string quartet fully amplified and seating for the outdoor event. WQLN radio will broadcast live from the event this year.

The Erie Maritime Museum invites the public to meet three of the area’s finest ship model-builders on Saturday, July 12, noon to 3 p.m. at the museum. Allison Taylor, Skip Nagle and Pete Gonzalez have built, repaired and refurbished ship models on display at the museum. Their talents and skills have produced beautiful, museum-quality work that honor ships and boats-some long gone–built in Erie and the region. The event will take place at the Erie Maritime Museum, 150 East Front St.; phone 814/452-2744.

The Cleveland Indians shipped reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee for prospects on Monday. The season is pretty much over for the Indians and the team was unable to sign Sabathia to a long-term contract during this past off-season. He will command in the $20-25 million per season range.

The Seawolves had the day off Monday. They open a three game series in Reading tonight.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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 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 archives at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host an open house tomorrow, Wednesday, July 9, as part of the kick-off of the college’s yearlong 60th anniversary celebration. The archive comprises three permanent collections: the Behrend Family Collection, the Hammermill Paper Company Collection and the Penn State Behrend Collection.

The Movies at Meadville is sponsoring a free screening of “Happy Feet” on July 10 to support the Creating Landscapes program. Creating Landscapes, a summer celebration of the Allegheny College Dance Studies program, is an interdisciplinary exploration of active learning through the arts and sciences offered to children and teens.

The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will be held this week at the Cell Block (12th & 13th on State Street) with the performer Joe Buchman & the Crew. The event theme is “Carnival on State,” and benefits MECA United Cerebral Palsy.

Opa! The 20th Annual Panegyri Greek Fest will be held Friday through Sunday, July 11 – 13, at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church on 4376 West Lake Road. The festival features Greek dinners, ala carte entrees, gyros, sausage and souvlaki sandwiches, loukoumades, pastries, continuous Greek music by Kakias Family Band, Greek folk dance groups, boutique, souvenirs, gold mart, Greek metal arts, kafenio/taverna, church tours, not to mention a raffle to win a trip to Greece for 2. Free parking and admission. For more info call (814) 838-8808.

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 Erie County Historical Society will hold a Ghosts and Legends Tour tonight every Friday at 8 p.m., now until September 26 (exception: September 5th). Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie through a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. Since size of group tour is limited, reservations required; call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.

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 Technology Council of Northwest Pennsylvania’s next lunchtime learning series will take place on July 17 at the Ambassador Conference Center on upper Peach street. The presentation, Engage the Crowd: Integrating Social Networking into your Business, will explore uses for social networking in business. The session is free for Technology Council members and $40 for non-members.

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.

Parents of Autistic Children will be holding a golf tournament on July 24 at Whispering Woods Golf Course. The format will be a 4-man scramble, with team prizes and individual prizes (longest drives, closest to the pin, etc). The fee is $100 and includes your golf, a cart, lunch, and dinner.

Penn State Erie–The Behrend College will hold its annual reunion this year from July 25-27. Alumni can stay overnight in student housing for $50 a night. Events like the Winery Tour, Car Show, Midnight Bingo, Dinner with the Zoo, and more. Visit the 2008 Reunion Facebook page to RSVP.

The Erie Lions Club Save an Eye City vs County All-Star football game will be held July 25 at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium, 26th and State Streets. The major purpose of the Save An Eye Game is to raise money to provide free eye care to low income children.

“Remembering Janis” will run June 26, 27, and 28 at Theatre 145, located at 145 West 11th St in Erie. Ticket prices are $10 Regular seating, $12 Riser seating and VIP seating at $15. For advanced tickets please visit their web site or call (814) 879-0733.

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 guys at Should I Drink That (SIDT) are holding a giveaway for 2 tickets (and other prizes) to the first annual Beer on the Bay Festival which will be held Saturday, July 26. The festival features the fine beer of the Erie Brewing Company and 25 other regional craft brewers along with great food and live music at Erie’s Pepsi Amphitheater on the bayfront.

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.

Minneapolis based duo Beatrix JAR returns to the Erie Art Museum,offering interactive events throughout the week beginning July 29, 2008 thru August 2, 2008. At each event, Beatrix JAR will present their unique stylings,including their most noted use of circuit bending verse traditional instrumental usage.

A fundraising event for the Lindsay Graygo Empowerment Scholarship Fund will be held Wednesday, August 13 from 5-8 p.m. at Molly Brannigans. Celebrity bartenders will serve up your favorite drinks and a Chinese auction will be held. Bartender tips and auction proceeds will go to directly to the fund. If you would like to make a donation, please visit the Scholarship’s donation page.

The 2008 City of Erie Recreation Tennis Tournaments will be held once again at
Frontier Park. Adults: August 13-17 (session for juniors has passed). 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.

Erie to host young professionals from across the state at Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference ERIE, PA — Young professionals, business executives and civic leaders from across the state are invited to take part the Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference, being held Sept. 12-14 at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. This marks the first year the ImPAct Conference (Innovative Minds Creating Pennsylvania’s Tomorrow) will be held in northwestern Pennsylvania.