Erie Blogs Week II wraps up today at the Community Blood Bank. The process only takes about 20 minutes. One person who signs up on the blogger’s list will get a brand new, shiny iPhone. We also have gift baskets for the blog that refers the most donors and another gift basket for a random donor. Please come in and donate this week! The Community Blood Bank is open until 12:30 p.m. today. If you donated but didn’t sign the Blogs Week sign-up sheet, please email Mike and let him know.

We were right. Obama didn’t pick Tom Ridge. He picked Joe Biden as his running mate.

The judge ruled yesterday in Erie Blogger Eden’s case, Lenz v. Universal. Judge Jeremy Fogel held that content owners must consider fair use before sending takedown notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”). From the EFF:

Universal Music Corporation (“Universal”) had sent a takedown notice targeting a 29-second home movie of a toddler dancing in a kitchen to a Prince song, “Let’s Go Crazy,” which is heard playing in the background. Because her use of the song was obviously a fair use and, therefore, non-infringing, Lenz sued Universal for misrepresentation under the DMCA. Universal moved to dismiss the case, claiming, among other things, that it had no obligation to consider whether Lenz’s use was fair before sending its notice.

Eden and her attorneys at the EFF still need to prove that Universal acted in bad faith when they sent the DMCA take-down notice. This ruling helps in proving that.

The first Lindsay Graygo Memorial 5K Run/Walk will be held on October 4, 2008 at Beach One of Presque Isle. All proceeds of the run/walk will go to the Lindsay Graygo Empowerment Scholarship. Here’s a registration form.

The Crawford County Fair concludes today. The demolition derby goes on at 2 and 7 p.m. There will also be fireworks.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will begin accepting applications Monday for Coastal Zone grants for the year running October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010. The grants help to improve public access to Pennsylvania’s two coastal zone areas along the Delaware Estuary and along Lake Erie. Eligible applicants include political subdivisions, authorities, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions located within Pennsylvania’s coastal zones.
Applications will be available starting this Monday, August 25, and ending October 20th. More information is available on the Departments Coastal Zone Management Program website.

DEP unveiled a new procedure making it easier (and presumably faster) for the Department to review permit applications to drill for natural gas. Pennsylvania sits on a massive underground natural gas resource called the Marcellus Shale geologic formation making the state a prime location for energy speculators.

The annual Zabawa Polish Festival is going on this weekend at the Holy Trinity Parish Grounds. The festival will include Polish music, dancing, and traditional Polish meals (galumpki and pirogies anyone?). For more information call (814) 456-0671.

Wrestling fans are hyped for tonights WWE event at the Tullio Convention Center. WWE Presents Smackdown/ECW at 7:30 p.m. Tickets were still available as of late last night.

Mercyhurst College has released their fall film schedule. Films this fall include Young@Heart, The Band’s Visit, The Counterfeiters, TImes and Winds, Dare Not Walk Alone and much more.

The SeaWolves are on fire beating the Connecticut Defenders 3-2 last night. The ‘Wolves play again today in Connecticut and won’t be back home until next Tuesday. Although not impossible but highly unlikely, if the SeaWolves win 8 of the 9 games remaining they will finish with a season average better than 500.

Sugarland concerts tickets are now on sale. They will play at the Tullio Arena with Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepherd.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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 20-piece Gem City Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Scott Tomlison, will be offering an outdoor performance on Monday, August 25th from 7 to 8 p.m. at Schmidt Towers – 153 E. 6th Street. The concert is open to the public and free of charge. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show.

The last 8 Great Tuesdays concert series performance will be next Tuesday, August 26. The last concert will feature Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Air Men from 6:30 – 9:30 at the Liberty Park, Pepsi Amphitheater. The event is free and shuttles to the park will be provided.

The Erie Block Party only has two more Thursday events. August 28 the party will be at the Plymouth with performers Key West Express, and September 4 that party will be at Scully’s with performer Money Shot.

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 12th Annual Erie German Heritage Festival will be held August 30-31 at the Shriner’s Club Grounds. Don’t worry about eating too much wienersnitzels and sauerkraut since there will be ton of music and dancing going on. For more information visit the official website.

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.

Steelers fans should be excited to read this. A celebrity pro party will be held by sports artist Kevin-John along with former Pittsburgh Steelers players on September 14th, 2008 at the Brewerie in downtown Erie. The Steelers versus the Browns will be the game of the week and televised at the party with the red carpet walk beginning at 6 p.m. The Hollywood style celebrity party is a fund raiser for the Willie Williams Show Them We Care Foundation for children’s education. Tickets begin at $35. For more information visit the official website.

The Erie based non-profit Gem City Concert Band is seeking new members for the Fall 2008 season. The 50 member concert band is under the direction of Scott Tomlison and plays a variety of music styles such as old overtures, show tunes, traditional concert band pieces, movie scores, and marches. Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. with Fall ’08 rehearsals beginning September 9th. All instruments are welcomed. Membership is free and interested musicians should call 814-899-8467, email, or visit the official website.

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.

Pull out your finest and join us for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Second Chance Prom to benefit the non-profit foundation. The event will be held Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Siebenbuerger Club, from 7-11 p.m. (dinner at 8pm). $15 per person Includes: buffet dinner, DJ, fun & games. Dinner starts at 8 p.m. and there is a cash bar. Please contact Amy Bement at the JDRF Office for more information and tickets at (814) 452-0635.

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.