The 8 Great Tuesdays concert series continues tonight with entertainment by Bernard Allison. The event runs from 6:30 – 9:30 at the Liberty Park, Pepsi Amphitheater. You can sample some music by Bernard at his MySpace page. More information on 8 Great Tuesdays including shuttle pick-up locations.
It came up in discussion this past weekend that the reason why Ohio gas prices are cheaper than Pennsylvania is because it has a lower tax. According to The Tax Foundation, Ohio’s gas tax is only 4 cents lower than Pennsylvania, however, the gas price between Ohio and Pennsylvania is anywhere from 10-15 cents cheaper. Any ideas explaining the difference? Here is a break down of gas taxes in the tri-state area (per gallon): Pennsylvania .323; Ohio .28; New York .412. Pennsylvania has the 10th highest tax rate on gasoline out of the 50 states. It should be noted that when it comes down to what’s really important–tax on beer–Pennsylvania has one of the lowest rates per gallon.
Speaking of gas prices, you can view a list of the areas lowest gas prices using our ErieBlogs Gas Price Finder.
The Alliance to Stop I-80 Tolling is a group of residents and business groups mostly from the middle of the state around the Williamsport region, is organizing a petition drive to repeal Act 44. In 2007, Act 44 was passed by the Pennsylvania legislature establishing I-80 as a toll road, but only upon the approval of the Federal Highway Administration. The FHA has yet to approve the tolling of I-80. If the Act is repealed, legislators would consider raising fuel taxes, vehicle registration or driver licensing fees (or a combination) to cover the shortfall. Congressman Phil English opposes the tolling of I-80.
Richard Valentine, who murdered his wife last year in his Villa Maria apartment, is in the process of being sentenced in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Valentine’s testimony yesterday described how he bludgeoned his wife, striking her in the head 21 times.
Carrie Dana was convicted Monday on multiple counts including rape and indecent assault of a child younger than age 13. Charges against the 28 year old Dana of Erie, stemmed from her sexually abusing an 11 year old boy.
The Erie School District is considering offering free lunches to all students next year. The federally assisted National School Lunch Program (NSLP) offers schools districts with 60 percent or more students receiving free or reduced-priced lunches the opportunity apply for the free-lunch program. There are only 6 other Pennsylvania school districts with universal free lunch programs.
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact was signed into law by Governor Rendell on July 8th of this month, joining Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Although the Compact won’t become law until Congress ratifies it, support in Congress and the Senate is building including support from Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. So far, 53 members of Congress from Great Lakes states have pledged to support the Compact.
MTR Gaming Group, which owns the Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Summit Township, might have a new majority stock holder when CEO Ted Arneault leaves the company. Jeffrey Jacobs of Cleveland is considering buying out the existing shares of Arneault when he leaves, adding to Jacobs existing stock ownership in MTR.
Two big events are coming up this weekend. Discover Presque Isle begins this Friday with a concert at beach 11, and various events running through-out Saturday and Sunday. If you’ve done enough discovering of Presque Isle in the past, you can always attend the Beer on the Bay Festival which runs this Saturday with two sessions of beer tasting and entertainment. More on these events in the coming days on ErieBlogs.com.
Although Buck Night at the Uht is always a favorite, the Seawolves didn’t quite deliver to those in attendance. The ‘Wolves lost 12-3 against the Binghamton Mets but will try again tonight with a doubleheader (seven inning games apiece) beginning at 6 p.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
A horse-drawn carriage tour and wine tasting will be held Thursday, July 24th, at 6:30 & 7:30 p.m., beginning at the Watson-Curtze Mansion, 356 W. 6th St. This downtown carriage tour, organized by the Erie County Historical Society, focuses on the architecture of Erie including mansions, churches, other notable structures, as well as the Erie Extension Canal. Afterward, wine tasting from local wineries will be held at the Watson-Curtze Mansion. Seating is limited so reservations are required; please call 814-454-1813 Ext. 0 to make a reservation.
The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will be held this Thursday, July 24, on State Street between 13th and 14th Streets. Performance by the band Money Shot with the theme “a night in the islands.”
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.
Every Friday at 8 p.m., now until September 26 (exception: September 5th) the Erie County Historical Society will hold a Ghosts and Legends Tour. 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.
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.
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.
Area artists, hoteliers, and other tourism-based businesses are invited to participate in a free workshop that will stimulate ideas for partnerships along the PA Route 6 Artisan Trail. The Art and Tourism: Partnering for Success Workshops will be three-hours long and held in two locations in western Pennsylvania in at the end of July. The workshops will take place on July 30 from 8-11 a.m. in Erie at the Erie Art Museum and from 2 to 5p.m. in Meadville at the Days Inn. There is no fee for the workshops, but participants must register by contacting Jen Swain, the PA Route 6 Artisan Trail Coordinator at 570-265-7455 or by e-mail at jen.paroute6@penn.com.
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.
The Erie Art Museum opens Art from the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute in the Erie Art Museum’s Annex Gallery, 423 State Street, now through October 4. A public opening reception is scheduled for Gallery Night on Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 from 6-10 p.m.
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.
