John McCain spent yesterday in Erie with Tom Ridge, including a tour of the GE Transportation plant. He held a town-hall meeting and took questions.

During McCain’s tour of the GE plant, he made the following comment as to what he would do in his first 90 days in Washington if he were elected president: “Call Tom Ridge to Washington from whatever vacation he’s taking and get him to work.” Looks like Ridge is definitely not part of the vice-presidential race. Lots of great coverage for Erie and for GE today in papers and blogs around the country (and world). It helped that McCain also commented extensively on the Russia-Georgia situation, helping Erie get even more press.

Erie Times-News
CBS News
LA Times
Politico.com
MSNBC
CNN
ABC News
Guardian Observer (UK)

Local blogger Jennifer Robinson was there and has coverage and photos from the event. That’s one of her photos above, you can click on it for the full version. If you attended the meeting at GE, post your thoughts about it in the comments below.

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

It’s the second Tuesday of the month and that means its time for the monthly Erie Bloggers Get Together. This month, we’ll meet up at Panera Bread in the Yorktown Center (map) at 7 p.m. You don’t have to be a blogger to attend – anyone with an interest in Erie, blogs, or technology is welcome to come and hang out and meet some local Erie bloggers. Here are some photos from past get-togethers. We should get those streamed on uStream to let more people participate who couldn’t make it.

As of last evening, the USA has won 14 medals in the 2008 Olympics, including 4 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze. Host country China also has 14. I don’t know much about swimming but have managed to catch every race Michael Phelps has swam. That dude is unstoppable and has set a world record every time he’s in a final round. If you get a chance to watch him swim, do it. It’s incredible.

Sister Patricia Lupo, OSB, of Erie was appointed to the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee by Governor Rendell. Sister Lupo is active in environmental matters, especially with the organization Earth Force.

Daniel Burke, professor and chair of the art department at Mercyhurst College, captured first prize in this summer’s 51st Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art for his installation “Arrivals.”

The New Zealand mud snail first invaded the Great Lakes in 1991 and has a number of scientists concerned. Something as small as the snail has “shown to cause substantial ecological changes to its freshwater habitat in many places where it has invaded,” Edward Levri said, a biology professor at Penn State Altoona. The population of native snails and certain other lake dwelling inhabitants are noticeably reduced with the introduction of a non-native snail. Lake Erie is most susceptible of the Great Lakes to this invasive species due to the shallow waters.

Gannon University student Saul Leyva is spending his summer interning for the Department of Human Services in Washington, D.C. Leyva, a senior liberal arts major, is gaining valuable experience working for the National Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

The EDGA Amateur Championship was suspended for the second day in a row on Monday.

Casper Wells of the Erie SeaWolves has been named the Eastern League player of the week. The 23-year old carried the SeaWolves offense last week, batting .414 (12-for-29) with two doubles, one triple, five home runs, 13 runs scored, 11 RBI, three walks and a 1.069 slugging percentage while leading the team to a 6-1 record. Congrats, Casper!

The SeaWolves were off last night but resume season play tonight home at the Uht against the New Britain Rock Cats. The Cats are the AA affiliate for the Minnesota Twins and are from New Britain, Connecticut. The ‘Wolves will play at home all week up to Sunday.

Patrick Anderson has been appointed the head baseball coach for Hofstra University located on Long Island, New York. Anderson began his career in 1996 at Gannon University as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator but left one year later.

The Rochester Rhinos soccer club have signed forward Andrew Lorei, 19, of Erie. Lorei attended Cathedral Prep before attending Gannon University for one season. In that time, Lorei helped lead Gannon to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Golden Knights were ranked nationally throughout the season, rising as high as 16th.

Allegheny College will host a free half-day visit program on Friday, Aug. 15 for college-bound students and their families. In addition, the schedule includes an optional session from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., which is open to morning and afternoon participants. The session, “Discover Gator Athletics & Recreation,” will be hosted by Allegheny athletics director Betsy Mitchell. In addition to talking about Allegheny’s athletics programs, Mitchell, who is an Olympic Gold Medalist and former world record holder as well as the first female director of athletics in Allegheny’s history, will be available to speak from her experience about the role that college athletics can play in achieving individual goals, whether they are Olympic gold or unprecedented career achievements.

The 20-piece Gem City Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Scott Tomlison, will be offering two outdoor performances. The first will be held on Friday evening, August 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Shops at the Colony (formerly the Colony Plaza) on West 8th Street. The second performance will be the City of Erie’s final “Sounds of Summer” Concert on Monday, August 25th from 7 to 8 p.m. at Schmidt Towers – 153 E. 6th Street. Both concerts are open to the public and free of charge. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the shows.

The nineteenth annual Silberman Recital Series at Allegheny College will feature performances by one of the country’s newest chamber music groups as well as musicians who have earned critical acclaim over decades of work on the concert stage and in the recording studio. The series will open with Manhattan Piano Trio on Monday, Sept. 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.

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 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.

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 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.