Lots of stuff going on this weekend: Key West Phest, the St. Paul’s Italian Festival, Footloose at the Erie Playhouse, and so much more. Get out there and have some fun.

Yesterday afternoon, a few funnel clouds were spotted over Lake Erie. Meterologist Ray Petelin has some pictures on his blog.

More news from National Fuel but this is unrelated (?) to prior day’s news of a rate increase. The company reported its third quarter was “another outstanding quarter” with record earnings. Utility customers should be reassured, however, that National Fuel is looking out for you. The company stated it is “working hard to help our Utility customers prepare for the coming heating season by encouraging them to take steps now to become as energy efficient as possible and to be aware of the array of programs and services we offer to help them manage their bills.” One way to help manage those bills is not to issue a rate increase.

VisitErie along with the Manufacturer & Business Association and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership released a joint statement calling on Erie City Council to reject the proposed amusement tax increase. The tax is already 3% but city council wants to raise it to 5%. One of the concerns expressed by the group is that small business will be hardest hit and close-up shop or that outside vendors will be discouraged and not come to Erie. In turn, this could potentially keep visitors from coming to Erie.

John McCain along with Tom Ridge are tentatively scheduled to be in Pennsylvania Monday, August 11, for a two-day tour through the western and central part of the state. The pair will begin in Erie and then work their way to Harrisburg. When McCain has been in Pennsylvania for campaigning, most of his time has been spent in the Philadelphia area.

Congressman Phil English’s 6th Annual Business Development Conference and Expo will be held August 12, 2008 at the Bayfront Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This years’ conference will focus on business opportunities in Russia, India, and Turkey. There is no cost to participate but registration required. Visit the BuyUSA.gov website for registration and more information.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club announced its endorsement of Kathy Dahlkemper in her bid to win the 3rd Congressional District seat. She will face incumbent Phil English and Steven Porter this November.

James Rosenberg of Saegertown decided to way to win an argument with his buddy was by driving his semi truck into his own house. He went for the gold by also trying to run down two cops who arrived at the scene.

Eerie Horror Film Festival is partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor the “Monster Wish” charity walk & fun run at Presque Isle on September 13th. The walk/run sign in will be at beach one at 10:00 a.m., and the Mayor will be present to impart a few words of inspiration to the participants before the walk starts. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Foundation. Please contact Melissa Bostaph at (814) 899-0407 for more information.

The Jockey Health Club on Peach Street was robbed early Sunday morning. Several women employees were tied up with duct tape while the assailants took money from a safe. Hopefully, there will be a happy ending and the suspects will be arrested.

The Erie SeaWolves stomped on the Reading Phillies last night with a score of 13-1. Wow. Of those 13 only 3 were home runs, so Erie worked for all those runs. Erie is now tied for fourth place with the Altoona Curve. Looking ahead there is not another Monday night game (as in no buck nights) until the last game of the season, September 1.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ website has an interview with Erie Bayhawks coach John Treloar. Treloar won a CBA title in 1991 when he was the coach of the Wichita Falls Texans.

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 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). More on the St. Paul Italian Festival.

Can you believe we’re just a few weeks away from the start of football season? This year, we’ll be running another ErieBlogs.com Fantasy Football League. Feel free to join up – the password is erie. The league winner will be awarded a fabulousness prize from ErieBlogs.com. We can’t vouch for the fabulousness, but we’ll at least get the winner a gift or gas card. It’s the least we can do.

Attention local businesses! In a few weeks, we will be launching the 2nd Annual Erie Blogs Week at the Community Blood Bank. We’re working with Dan and the crew on some great giveaways, but we need your help. If you and/or your business would like to contribute to our gift baskets, please fill out our contact form and Mike will get right back to you. Items like gas cards or other gift certificates would be awesome. Thank you so much!

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.

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 8 Great Tuesdays concert series will feature the rock band Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers. The Rockers will play next Tuesday, August 12 from 6:30 – 9:30 at the Liberty Park, Pepsi Amphitheater. The event is free and shuttles to the park will be provided.

If you’re downtown around Noon on Tuesday, August 12, stop by the Warner Theater for the “Get Your Phil At Noon” Summer Music Series. The Erie Philharmonic’s free lunch-hour concert is designed to provide “music while you munch,” and will feature a Philharmonic string quartet fully amplified as well as seating for the outdoor event.

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.

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.

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 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.

The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will not be held next Thursday, August 14 due to CelebrateErie. The next upcoming block party will be August 21 at Matthew’s Trattoria & Martini Lounge with performers Duke Sherman Band & Sam Hyman.

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.

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.

The State Library of Pennsylvania will celebrate its second annual Genealogy Day on Saturday,
Sept. 20. This free event will have exhibits and information sessions on various subject areas. For additional information, please contact Marc Bender at (717) 705-6272.

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.