Yesterday was the 93 year anniversary of the the Millcreek flood that devastated the City of Erie. On August 3rd, 1915, a culvert on 26th Street became blocked due to storm water debris, causing a large reservoir of water to form that eventually gave way and flooded the city. 36 people died including the first Erie Firefighter to die in the line of duty, 25 year old John J. Donavan.
Following last week’s death of a swimmer at an unguarded state park, state officials are taking a closer look at the policy of not having lifeguards at state park facilities with swimming areas. Presque Isle is the only state part to have lifeguards on duty. 43 other states have an open swimming policy.
If you read the Sunday edition of the Erie Times-News, you may have noticed an entire page devoted to letters the paper received from readers expressing their disgust due to the Times running a picture of the dog that attacked Addison Sonney on their front page.
Three people were shot yesterday at the Steppin’ Out Lounge on Buffalo Road. 28 year-old Devonne Williams is the suspected shooter. Just a week ago, another person was shot at the bar and 54 year old Johnny Ray Roberts is the suspect in that shooting. It appears that people need to start steppin’ up and help find these people.
As we reported last Friday, Governor Rendell is in town today to hand out an oversized cardboard check.
The outdoor organizations Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will meet at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center this Saturday to discuss a number of environmental, hunting, and recreational issues. The groups will also be discussing the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s new pheasant management plan to curb the decline of the wild bird.
Weekend recap. If you missed this weekend’s News & Events, here’s a recap: Saturday–Grant money from the state was awarded to various school districts and state fair grounds, Allegheny College has a new president, and Dan Rice Days in Girard concluded. Sunday–Peter Sidorkiewicz will return to the Erie Otters as an assistant coach this fall, and Congressional candidate Kathy Dahlkemper got a boost from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program.
We’ve updated the daily News & Events to include a number of upcoming area festivals, celebrations, and activities.
The 5th Annual Key West Phest will be held this Friday and Saturday, August 8 & 9, at Liberty Park on the bayfront. The event is free but through on site fundraising efforts, money will be raised for charity. Friday’s events run from 4 – 10 p.m. with the band Key West Express closing the park, and Saturday from 1 – 10 p.m. with the night’s entertainment by Club Trini (not to be confused with Club Tranny). Parking will be at least $15 so you may want to consider taking a shuttle roundtrip for $1.
St. Paul’s annual Italian Festival will be August 8 – 10 with lots and lots of Italian food including patries and a pasta fagioli dinner. While you are stuffing your face you can enjoy musical entertainment & games like bingo. Don’t forget about the Procession of Blessed Virgin Mary statue after Sunday’s 11 a.m. Mass. The festival will be held in Little Italy (West 16 & Walnut Streets). We will have more on the Italian Festival later this morning.
Asbury Woods along with photographer Jim Kubaney will introduce students to digital photography and learning how to photograph nature (bring your own digital camera). Classes will be held August 12 & 19. For more information call (814) 835-5356.
Friends of Allegheny Wilderness (FAW), a non-profit organization based in Warren, is hosting a “wild” picnic Aug. 13 at Oil Creek State Park. The old-fashioned community-style picnic is open to anyone interested in learning more about the campaign to forever protect the most natural areas of the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) through Congressional wilderness designation under the Wilderness Act of 1964. FAW is providing hot dogs, drinks and condiments and those attending are asked to bring a dish to share and their own tableware.
The North East National Rib Festival, sponsored by Fuller Hose Company, will be held August 24-26. For more information contact Fuller Hose at (814) 725-3308.
The Wine Country Harvest Festival, hosted by the North East Chamber of Commerce, will be held September 28-30. Expect a variety of music, food, arts & crafts, champagne breakfast, Cruise In, Children’s Area, winery tours, wagon rides, wine and food seminars, wine by the glass, and souvenirs. There will be 5 wineries in the wine tent this year, serving more than 40 varieties of wine, along with free shuttle service to the wineries and to other attractions in town.
In what ended up being a close game, the Reading Phillies lost to the SeaWolves yesterday 4-3 at the Jerry Uht Park. The Phillies almost came back in the 9th but the ‘Wolves were able to seal the deal making it an official 3-game series sweep. Phillies will have their chance to get even as the ‘Wolves go to Reading later this week for another 4-game series. Until then the ‘Wolves remain in Erie and will play the Harrisburg Senators Monday through Wednesday. Harrisburg is currently 3rd in the division and Erie in 5th. Only 26 more games left in regular season so catch the Erie SeaWolves at home when you can!
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
Young Erie Professionals (yep!) will 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 inaugural Erie Big Ball Hall of Fame will be launched at this year’s Big Ball All Star Game on Friday, August 8. With over 75 years of history and thousands of local and regional players throughout the years, the Hall of Fame committee was started and has selected six players to be the first inducted members of this unique Hall of Fame.
The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will be held this week at Jr’s Last Laugh Comedy Club featuring the rock band M-80′s. The event theme is “Take You Back” and benefits Vietnam Veterans Chapter 435.
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 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.
