Hope you weren’t planning on being too warm this winter – National Fuel (NFG) yesterday announced that they’re raising their rates 33.4%. One tip: wear a sweater (or three). If you think this is bad, wait until electricity regulation ends in Pennsylvania in 2011. We are all going to be in serious trouble.

It turns out the people who allegedly pulled fire alarms at several fire stations on Sunday were volunteer firefighters. Robert Burt, Jason Winston, Sarah O’Brien, Richard Hartline, Philip Jackson, Brian Salvatore and a juvenile female have been charged with false alarms to agencies of public safety and various other criminal counts. What’s really sad is that Salvatore is the chief at the Lake Shore Fire Company and should know better.

Chet Beiler (R) will be running against incumbent Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner (D). Beiler held his first major foray into the political spotlight by holding a press conference today in Harrisburg. In the coming months, Beiler will be campaigning around the state with Erie as one of the designated stops. The position of auditor general was formed in 1809 by the PA legislature and has the responsibility for ensuring that all state money is spent legally and properly.

Governor Rendell will be in Erie next Monday as part of a 5-day, 16-city tour for what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describes as “handing out oversized cardboard checks for various economic development and road/bridge improvement projects.”

The U.S. Brig Niagara is in Duluth, Minnesota, this weekend for a tall ships festival. The trip took the Niagara crew to the furthest point west that a ship can sail on the Great Lakes. The Brig Niagara, which is the largest ship at the festival, will depart Duluth on Tuesday. One spectator commented, “It’s hard to put into words, you don’t see this every day.” Erie is fortunate to have such a remarkable asset as part of its heritage.

The annual Dan Rice Days celebration begins this morning along Main Street in downtown Girard. The even which continues through tomorrow, has a number of events including a parade, live entertainment, 5k race, antique appraisals, civil war reenactments, and art & craft shows. Rich has complete coverage on the Dan Rice Days celebration.

It’s coming up! Celebrate Erie will be held August, 14-17, 2008, and will feature a number of events, music performances, and the favorite “Taste of Erie.” More on Celebrate Erie next week on ErieBlogs.com.

Erie will be hosting the Erie PA Sport Fishing Association’s Walleye and Steelhead Pro-Am. The tournament starts at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and going until 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Railpower Technologies Corp. announced today that Virginia International Terminal (VIT) purchased two multi-genset, low emission, fuel efficient, four-axle RP20BD locomotives and one hybrid GG20B locomotive. Railpower’s US headquarters are in Erie.

Drum Corps International (DCI) will be broadcasting this years DCI World Championship Quarterfinals in more than 340 movie theaters including Erie’s own Cinemark Tinseltown USA. You can pre-order your tickets to the Thursday, August 7th show online. The event begins at 6 p.m and will go until 11:30. Tickets are $19.00 for 5 hours of live entertainment.

The SeaWolves lost to the Akron Aeros 4-1 last night, splitting the four game series 2-2. Not bad considering the ‘Wolves are second to last in the division and Akron, first. Erie’s boys of summer return home tonight to play the Reading Phillies in a three game series.

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

The next 8 Great Tuesdays concert series will feature the performer Leon Russell. Leon will play next Tuesday, August 5 from 6:30 – 9:30 at the Liberty Park, Pepsi Amphitheater. The event is free and shuttles to the park will be provided.

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