Abe Satterfield’s trial was expected to start on November 3. He was facing sex abuse charges related to an incident when Satterfield was a student at the University of Iowa. Prosecutors are now saying the trail may be delayed due to pre-trial motions and the busy schedules of prosecutors.
CelebrateErie begins tonight and runs until Sunday (August 14-17). You can catch a number of rock bands, activities, and family orientated entertainment in downtown Erie during the celebration. A few highlights include Taste of Erie featuring a number of local restaurants and a grand finale fireworks Sunday night at 9:30. Despite the name change from “We Love Erie Days” made quite a few years ago, ErieBlogs.com is still getting a large number of keyword searches for this term.
Inside Higher Ed has an article about community colleges, and features Erie and the quest by some to open a community college here. Robert Spaulding of the County’s economic development office is quoted in the story, saying “Erie is its own worst enemy. Sometimes we don’t like to do things that are in our best interest.” Spaulding recognizes (but does not address in the article) that many in the community do not understand the necessity of a community college in an area that has a number of four-year and proprietary institutions.
Several people stole a dozen iPods from the Circuit City store on upper Peach. The iPods had a value of nearly $3,000. They should have donated blood during next week’s Erie Blogs Week at the Community Blood Bank. They could have won an iPhone.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett is suing a mortgage lead generation company that violated Do-Not-Call laws. The company, Direct LeadSource, Inc. called consumers in just about every county in the commonwealth, including Erie. The company is run by Cory Ruppersberger, the son of House of Representatives member C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland. Would be note to all criminals: don’t boast about your law-breakin’ skillz on your MySpace page. Here’s a bit from HousingWire.com:
The Sun also reported that Ruppersberger’s MySpace page, in which he goes by the name C-Note, includes a boast that he can “contact clients that aren’t being reached by other telemarketing lists because of DNC [Do Not Call] scrubbing.” His profile information has since been set to private.
Nikki the tiger continues to make headlines around the world, such as this story in the New York Post, about the fact that he’s too shy to explore his new $500,000 habitat.
Start planning an alternate route if you’re driving on W. 26th Street near the I-79 interchange. Road work on the interchange will begin Monday. Lanes will be closed or reduced until mid-September. Then, crews will work on the other side of the street.
Jim McCaslin, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC), and other senior executives from HDMC will be in Erie on Friday, August 22 to attend Harley-Davidson of Erie‘s Ride Home Party at Buffalo Wild Wings. The event begins with a welcome reception from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by a sunset group ride around Presque Isle and wraps up with a concert by Rick Magee and the Roadhouse Rockers.
Erie Insurance is the proud new owner of a severely water-logged 1997 Honda Accord. Seven years ago Erie Insurance paid the owner of the stolen Honda which has now turned up in a small Maryland Lake. Good luck getting your money back on that one.
Governor Rendell announced that the commonwealth is supporting educational efforts to education school children on environmental issues. Grants for various projects were awarded to the following institutions: $3,000 to the Erie City School District to continue an energy audit of the district’s Collegiate school building, as well as fund field trips to a landfill, Presque Isle State Park, a water treatment plant, and St. Vincent College; $13,066 to Gannon University to conduct a “Fuel for Schools” workshop for 15 to 20 high school science teachers focusing on the environmental benefits and production of biodiesel fuel; $2,994 to the Conneaut School District to cover the costs for field trips to local waterways for water quality testing and to purchase materials for lessons on sustainable energy; and $1,047 to the Warren County Conservation District to conduct a workshop for local residents on the benefits of rain barrels such as water conservation and reducing nonpoint source pollution.
Erie non-profit group Therapy Dogs United, Inc., in conjunction with the American Kennel Club, will host the area’s only Responsible Dog Ownership Day at Frontier Park (north side) Saturday, September 20th, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, rain or shine. Event highlights include a Blessing of the Dogs, Parade of Breeds, agility demonstrations, special appearance by search and rescue dogs, K9 police units, and therapy dogs. Other activities include Canine CPR, Pet First Aid, dog rescue groups, animal safety demonstrations, live acoustic music, contests, prizes, chinese auciton, animal-related vendors.
The Erie Art Museum opens Found Artists: Photography by Fred Scruton in the Museum’s Frame Shop Gallery, August 15 through November 8, 2008. A public reception will be held during Gallery Night, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 from 6-10 p.m.
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.
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 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.
Only two more 8 Great Tuesdays concert series performances are left for the summer. Next Tuesday, August 19th, will feature Erie’s own Dave Stevens Big Band from 6:30 – 9:30 at the Liberty Park, Pepsi Amphitheater. The event is free and shuttles to the park will be provided.
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 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 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.
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.
