One-year-old Addison Sonney and her mother were attacked by their pet dog yesterday outside the family’s home at the Laurel Hill Cemetary Caretaker’s cottage. Addison was flown to Pittsburgh where she later passed away. Police tracked down the dog to a home in the Love Farms subdivision where they shot and killed it. Before assumptions are made, a relative of the Sonneys contacted us and told us the following:

The dog was raised by [Brady] and his wife from a puppy and was always great with children. They have a 7 year old daughter as well, and her and the Ollie (the dog) were best friends. Ollie was very well taken care of and was always a big part of their family. Brady and his wife Kari are in disbelief about the incident. Ollie was always very kind and playful with the children and never showed any aggression towards the family. We are not sure why the dog made this vicious attack on Addison & Kari, and may never know, but this truly has been a nightmare for everyone. Kari, Brady, as well as the hospital, made every attempt to save little Addison.

As parents and animal lovers ourselves, Mike and Rich extend our condolences to the family. A memorial page has been set up for little Addison.

The 70th annual Save an Eye All-Star Football Game will be held tonight at the Veterans Memorial Stadium pitting the City against the County. Sponsored by the Erie Lions Club, the game was first played in Erie in 1939 with the tradition continuing today. Money raised will toward providing free eye care for low income children.

Discover Presque Isle begins today starting at 11 a.m. Highlights for today include a concert at beach 11 by Jake’s Blues including a bonfire. Various events run through-out the weekend.

Erie blogger Brooke posted yesterday about Penn State Behrend’s former dean and provost John Lilly, who left Penn State Behrend in 2001. Baylor University has dismised Lilly and it looking for a replacement president immediately, stating “the board lost confidence in John’s ability to unite the various Baylor constituencies.”

Cassandra Garrison has been selected to anchor JET-TV’S Good Morning Erie 5:30am-7am, Action News 24 at Noon, and FOX 66 News in the Morning at 8am on WFXP-TV. She will begin her full-time anchor duties on Thursday July 31. She will replace Trina Orlando, who is moving to KDKA in Pittsburgh on July 30.

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 Coke Corporation was fined $6.1 Million dollars last month by the PA Department of Environmental Protection and is now appealing that decision. Despite repeated warnings going back to early 2007 from the Department, Erie Coke refused to come into compliance with state environmental laws. It appears Erie Coke waited 29 days after they were fined on June 24, filing an appeal one day before the deadline.

The local blood supply fell again to a new record low this week. The total units available at area hospitals is now more than 500 units of blood below the optimum safe levels. If you can, please head to the Community Blood Bank of NW PA.

After getting crushed 11-0 by the Binghamton Mets in the first game of yesterday’s double header, the Erie SeaWolves squeaked by in the second game winning 1-0. Tonight the SeaWolves begin a new series against the Bowie Baysox starting at 7 p.m.

The AP has an interesting story about the casino being built in Pittsburgh. All of the other casinos in the state have been built without major issue except in Pittsburgh, where Don Barden, who won the slots license there, can’t seem to get his funding in place and has been changing plans, designs, breaking promises and not paying contractors. Barden is now trying to bring on new owners and the state gaming board is asking questions.

Beer on the Bay Festival will be held tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, at Liberty Park. There will be over 25 microbreweries and music by the Duke Sherman Blues Band. There will be two separate sessions: (1) 1 – 4 p.m., and (2) 6 – 9 p.m with the gate opening a half hour before the start of each session. Tickets for the event are $35 with a limit of 2000 tickets sold per session.

Young Erie Professionals (yep!) will hold its 5th Annual Kickball Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8:00 a.m. at Community Park in Harborcreek.

Yep! will also host an Executive Coffee Talk on Wednesday, August 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Brewerie at Union Station (123 W 14th St., Erie). Jim Berlin, local entrepreneur and CEO of Logistics Plus, will be the speaker.

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.

If you’re up for a road trip, Pittsburgh Steelers training camp opens on July 27 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. The Steelers’ first preseason game is August 8.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF) has a number of events and movies planned for the summer running now 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 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 8 Great Tuesdays concert series continues next Tuesday, July 29th, with an all time favorite. The rock band Jakes Blues will play from 6:30 – 9:30 at the Liberty Park, Pepsi Amphitheater. The event is free and shuttles to the park will be provided.

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 5th Annual Erie SeaWolves Fun Run/Walk (5k Run/2 mile Walk) will be held August 2nd, with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the race beginning at 9:30 a.m. Proceeds to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation Western/Central PA. For more information visit the event website or contact the Erie Office at 814-451-1135 or via email at staff@efwp.

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.1