There’s no saying you’re bored during this weekend. Tons of events are going on including the North East Cherry Festival, Greek Fest, Jazz & Blues Walk, Seawolves play at the Uht, and more (keep reading for details). Mostly sunny today with a small chance of showers tonight and rain likely tomorrow.
It’s no secret that state laws regarding wine and beer sales in Pennsylvania are archaic at best, especially when compared to our neighbors in Ohio and New York. Some stores are starting to examine the rules and one of them is Wegmans. The grocery store chain is currently selling beer in six PA stores, and the sales are only available in the restaurant area of each store. Wegmans is currently awaiting approval for the transfer of liquor license transfers for its two stores in Erie, where it will be able to offer single glasses of beer for diners and carry-out six packs. Expect a fight locally, as beer and wine trade associations have fought the transfers in other parts of the state.
Last night was the first night of the Rust Belt Bloggers Summit held at Brewerie. Erie blogger Mike Mahler was at last nights event and blogged about it. Thank you to conference organizers for bringing the event to Erie.
If you didn’t pick up an iPhone 3G today at a local AT&T store, you’re out of luck until next week. Stock in the Erie stores was exhausted quickly. If you really need one, try Meadville. No word if they sold out as well.
Several firefighters from the Erie are packing up and heading to California to help in battling several large wildfires in the state. They’ll be on the front lines two to three weeks.
The Ravine Flyer II continues to make national headlines, this time in the New York Times. The writer is as excited about the coaster as we’ve been:
The Ravine Flyer II is a slick and beautiful, fast and furious wooden coaster that begins with a deceptive 85-foot lift hill that crests high above Lake Erie (is that Canada?) before blasting you down a 118-foot ravine (surprise!), into a pitch-black tunnel, up and out into the light, over a four-lane highway, curving onto a second 86-foot hill, back over the highway, around some crazy bends banking up to 90 degrees (sideways) followed by some other indescribable funny business (total chaos) and ends only when you are near hysterical, winded and happy, wondering who you are, how you got there — and when you can ride it again.
Father Richard Allen of the Erie Catholic Diocese, previously at St. George Church in Erie and now at St. Agatha’s Church in Meadville, will be heading to Iraq in January. 1st Lt. Richard Allen will travel with the Aviation Brigade based in Indiantown Gap. He was previously assigned to the Stryker Unit based in Meadville. Fr. Allen married Mike and his wife and baptized both his children. Good luck, father!
We missed it yesterday, but July 11, 1979 was the day Skylab re-entered Earth’s atmosphere after spending 6 years as the the US’s first space station. The pilot on the first Skylab mission was Commander Paul J. Weitz of Erie. Weitz spent 28 days in orbit and later commanded the first flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983.
The Penn State Board of Trustees approved a 5.9 percent tuition hike for the 2008-09 school year. Despite PSU President Grahm Spanier considers the increase “reasonable,” that’s not much consolation for the thousands of students already enrolled at the university. In-state tuition will now be $13,000, and the university will have an annual operating budget of $3.6 billion.
A new campaign t.v. ad is being broadcast in the Erie market. The AFL-CIO began running a commercial on local television stations featuring Vietnam veteran Jim Wasser airing his disagreement with Republican nominee John McCain. Democratic nominee Barack Obama might be sponsoring a car at the Pocono race this August in Pennsylvania. Fox News has an article on the news item entitled, “Obama Running on Fumes? NASCAR Sponsorship Rumored.”
The Jazz & Blues Walk is tonight and begins with a reception from 7 to 8:00 p.m. at the Erie Art Museum Annex. At the reception you can purchase an admission button entitling the bearer to refreshments at the reception, free admission to Jazz & Blues Walk venues, and free rides on the Jazz & Blues Walk shuttles. Performers will begin playing at a number of venues starting at 8 p.m. Click here for more information including an interactive map of the various venues.
Opa! The 20th Annual Panegyri Greek Fest begins today and will go from 2:30 – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday noon – 9 p.m. at the 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.
We blogged this week about Gregory Williams, who was facing charges regarding sexual relationships with prisoners he oversaw at the jail in Cambridge Springs. Yesterday, Judge John Spataro found Williams guilty on four charges of institutional sexual assault and one charge of official oppression. He was acquitted on three other counts of institutional sexual assault and one charge of official oppression.
Erie Seawolves and Altoona Curve face off tonight in game 2 of the 4 game series is tonight at the Jerry Uht Park. Last night the Curve beat the ‘Wolves 10-8. Fans are invited to bring their pet dogs to tonights game with the first 200 pet owners receiving a free dog dish.
On September 28, Emergycare will stop operating its ambulance service in the Meadville area. Services in the Erie area will not be affected by the cuts. Similar to Millcreek, Meadville was being served by two ambulance companies.
Next week’s Roar on the Shore will bring a bunch of street closings and other traffic adjustments during the event. The following streets will close starting Wednesday, Jly 16 through Sunday, July 20: North Park Row, South Park Row and State Street from 5th to 7th streets.
Bring your children to meet Biscuit the Dog at the Millcreek Mall today at noon. Biscuit is a fictional character in a popular children’s book series by Alyssa Capucilli and Pat Schories. Registration for the Reading Rewards Program will also be held for children ages 12 and under.
The Erie Maritime Museum invites the public to meet three of the area’s finest ship model-builders today from noon to 3 p.m. 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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 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.
Gannon University Writers’ Workshops 2008 are for students Grades 4-12, helping them to develop a writing process and produce a book of their own. Each session will be limited to 25 students with the next session 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 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 Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will not be held this July 17. Next block party will be held July 24.
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 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.
The next Erie Philharmonic’s Get Your Phil At Noon Summer Music Series concert will be held 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.
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.
