It was a hot one in Erie yesterday, and Presque Isle was jam packed, as was other events around town, at least before the rain started. There’s a chance for more rain today, which will hopefully start after Mike has had a chance to ride the Ravine Flyer II and chow down on some grub at the Masonic Family Picnic, which will be held at Waldameer today. If you’ll be attending, stop him and say hello, he’ll be the one chasing two kids around.
We reported that the Penn State University Board of Trustees approved an almost 6% hike in tuition fees. The Centre Daily Local News has a detailed breakdown of tuition costs affecting various PSU students including a comparison to the previous year’s tuition rate. Having the Penn State trustees in Erie this past week has brought a ton of news about gifts being made and programs being made, and has brought a good amount of attention to Erie as well.
Former White House Press Secretary and Fox News analyst Tony Snow passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. He was scheduled to be the moderator at this year’s Manufacturers and Business Association annual event, but illness kept him away and former press secretary Ari Fleischer stepped in.
Articles that feature Erie, Pa. along with scenic pictures–like the one published yesterday in the Green Valley News and Sun–do a lot to promote the region. Residents of Green Valley, Arizona, would get the impression (and correctly so) that Erie, Pa. is a wonderful vacation spot. The article featured Randy Brunckhorst and his prize walleye caught in Lake Erie in June.
Lillian Oberle has been named the 2008 Cherry Queen as part of the North East Cherry Festival, which concluded yesterday.
A Discovery Channel film crew shooting a special about salt was in Erie this week to interview John Kanzius about his invention that creates energy from salt water.
Last day to attend the 20th Annual Panegyri Greek Fest. Today’s festivities run from noon – 9 p.m. at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church on 4376 West Lake Road. The festival features lots of Greek food, 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.
Saturday night’s Erie SeaWolves game against the Altoona Curve was suspended due to inclement weather in the bottom of the third inning with the SeaWolves ahead 5-4. The two clubs will now play a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m. Game one will be the conclusion of the Saturday’s game and while game two will start a half-hour after game one and will be a seven-inning ballgame. If you’re in the mood for baseball, today’s the day to go.
The Thunderbirds Drum and Bugle Corps will be representing the Erie and Crawford area communities next Saturday as they perform in the Salem, Ohio, Grande Parade (south west of Youngstown).
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, July 16 through Sunday, July 20: North Park Row, South Park Row and State Street from 5th to 7th streets.
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.
i took my daughter to waldameer yesterday and it was packed! there was over an hour wait to ride the ravine flyer 2. we ended up getting caught in the downpour and left, so we never made it on the ride.