The Erie SeaWolves completed their 2008 season yesterday at Jerry Uht Park. The Wolves fell 4-1 to the Akron Aeros. The SeaWolves finished the season with a 68-74 record. They came on strong in the second half of the season, and expect a few players to be called up to Detroit when major league rosters expand today. This season the SeaWolves had their third-highest attendance ever. Congratulations to the team and organization for another fine season.
The crowds were huge at Waldameer and Presque Isle on Labor Day as everyone tried to squeeze in one more trip on the Ravine Flyer II, one more day laying out at the beach or one more trip on the boat around Misery Bay. You couldn’t ask for more beautiful weather. One of the sites you may have seen was the return of the Brig Niagara, under full sail, coming home after a busy travel season.
A fund has been created for Michael and Cara Milani. Their house caught fire this weekend and they were both life-flighted to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. They are both in the ICU unit. Donations can be made at any branch of First National Bank. Ask for the Mike Milani Family Fund.
If you want to expand your use of online video in your business, this webinar may be of interest to you. ErieBlogs’ Mike will lead an online webinar entitled “Beyond YouTube: How to host and promote your online videos on the Web” on September 24. The webinar will give you an overview of available video options on the web including the different types of YouTube channels, affordable and scalable cloud hosting, Facebook, Vimeo, and more. He will also share tips and best practices to promote and track the success of your videos on the Web.
The Republican National Convention opened yesterday in Minneapolis, Mn. The schedule was pared down due to Hurricane Gustav. President Bush canceled his appearance over the weekend. Among the actions announced today are the formation of the Affected States Working Group, the establishment of an Affected States Information Center, and the chartering of a DC-9 to transport affected delegates. Tom Ridge was scheduled to speak today.
The Erie Times News has an article this morning on the impending retirement of Erie School District Superintendent James Barker. The news was already told to the school board. Apparently the hefty pay raise Barker received last year wasn’t enough to keep him around but it may very well pad any retirement or pension he may receive in the years to come.
Erie blogger Joel over at Radio Free JoJo is starting up a new blog called The Press and Tower. According to Joel, the new site is an attempt to fill the void that Jack Tirak left after his sudden death.
There will be a live telethon on WSEE and The CW on September 16, with all proceeds benefitting John Kanzius’ cancer research. Operators will be available from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Telethon guests will include John Malone, Angela Bontempo, Maryann Yochim and Joyce Savocchio.
Professor Larry Sasich of LECOM was quoted in a story that hit the wires all over the world this past weekend. The story explored suicide risks created by drugs people were taking for physical pain.
Peg Thomas and James Fairbank, both members of the management faculty at Penn State Erie, have published a new book called The Daily Art of Management: A Hands-On Guide to Effective Leadership and Communication
Mercyhurst has partnered with the Corry and North East Chambers of Commerce to offer special tuition rates to employees of the organizations’ member businesses. Through the Partners in Development Grant Program, chamber members and their employees will be able to take courses at any Mercyhurst campus and will receive 25 percent off normal tuition rates.
Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., has been selected as a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). The AERA is a national research society that strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.
Baldwin-Wallace College won the Penn State Behrend Herb Lauffer soccer tournament this past weekend. BWC’s Jim Synk was named as the Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Waterford Community Fair continues today and runs through this Saturday, September 6. The fair will have a number of events going on every day including truck, tractor, and horse pulls, livestock judging, rides, and more. Our favorite event? The blue ribbon apple pie contest, of course.
Join the Gem City Concert Band tonight (September 2nd) for its final summer concert. The 50-member Concert Band, under the direction of Scott Tomlison, will be performing from 7 to 8 p.m. for the outdoor concert and ice cream social at St. John’s Lutheran Church parking lot, 2216 Peach Street. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the program. Off-street parking is available and the concert is free and open to the public; donations will be accepted. More information on the official Gem City website or call (814) 899-8467.
September Events
The Erie Block Party only has one more Thursday event. The next party will be held September 4 at Scully’s with performer Money Shot. The theme of the party (which seems to be the permanent theme in downtown Erie) is “80′s on State” with the designated charity SafeNet.
Summer is running out so don’t miss out on the “Last Blast of Summer.” The Erie Heritage Festival will be held Friday, September 6th, at Liberty Park on the bayfront. The festival is a day-long performance venue of Americana and World music performed by musicians from the Erie and Southern Ontario regions. There will be a performance by the Erie Philharmonic with fireworks to end the days festivities. The festival will also give participants the experience of living history through the cultural arts found around the Great Lakes. The 4th Annual Erie’s Heritage Festival is sponsored by the Erie County Historical Society, WQLN, and the Erie Philharmonic and the Erie Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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.
Award-winning poets Annie Finch and Paula Bohince will read from their work at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11 in the Tillotson Room of Allegheny College’s Tippie Alumni Center at Cochran Hall. The program, which is free and open to the public, is part of the college’s Single Voice Reading Series.
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.
Following on the heels of the release of their first original album, The Pete Best Band is bringing their brand of rock and roll to Theatre 145 in Erie, PA, September 19, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. Opening for them will be veteran rock ‘n roll band The Cryers (www.myspace.com/thecryersrockon) from Freehold, NJ. They will be performing songs from their new CD ‘Rock ‘n Roll Holiday’ plus classic tunes from the 60′s.
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.
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.
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 1st Annual Week for the Animals will be held September 20-28, 2008. This first statewide event is designed to celebrate the role that animals play in our lives everyday. The week will feature adoption events, a salute to animals in law enforcement and the military, school and art activities, R.E.A.D. dogs in libraries, blessings of the animals, law seminar events, festivals, fairs, wine tastings, golf outings, art exhibits, film documentaries, poker runs, and more. More with more than eighty events scheduled. If you would like to be involved or schedule an event, call Michelle Buckalew at 877-454-0807, Patricia Haddock at 866-376-6123 or Laura Allen at 435-644-3333. More information on the offical website of Pennsylvania Week for the Animals.
Advance tickets are on sale for the Saturday, Sept. 20 performance by famed comedy troupe “The Second City” at Allegheny College. The performance, part of the college’s Family Weekend and 2008-09 Centerstage Series, will begin at 8 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium. Tickets for the performance — $10 if purchased on or before Sept. 6; $15 after Sept. 6 and at the door — can be purchased in the college’s Office of Conference and Event Services, 006 Reis Hall. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.allegheny.edu/events or over the phone, at 814-332-3101, with Mastercard or Visa. Audiences should note that Second City’s humor contains language and situations some may find offensive.
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 Great Lakes Film Festival will run from September 25-28 and held at Theatre 145 (formerly the Road House) and will feature independent films from all over the world. With Special guests, filmmakers, scriptwriters, and meet and greets. Don’t miss out on the after parties with bands and receptions.
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.
October Events
Acclaimed stand-up comedian Bobby Collins is bringing his special brand of heartfelt humor from the comedy club scene to the stage of Pennsylvania’s Erie Playhouse. Collins will headline a special stand-up show at the Erie Playhouse at 8 p.m. Friday, October 3. Described as a “perfect fusion of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis” (New York Post), Collins is known for his live performances, cable TV specials, numerous talk show appearances, feature film roles and comedy CDs. “Stand-Up Comedy Legend Bobby Collins” will be presented at the Erie Playhouse, 13 West 10th Street. Tickets are $32.75 and can be purchased by calling (814) 454-2852.
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 13th annual Because You Care walk will be Sunday, October 5, 2008. The Annual Walk for Small Animals, as Because You Care’s largest fundraiser, provides funds needed for the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned and abused animals throughout BYC’s operating year. The funds from this Walk help to provide the necessary veterinary care (including spaying and neutering) and food and supplies to animals all year around. In addition to working for the cause, the Walk has also become one of BYC’s most fun and educational events. Walkers and dogs of all ages come out to partake in a carnival of pre- and post- walk events, stroll by educational stations, walk the beautiful Beach 11 area with dogs, and enjoy an after-walk lunch with door prizes and raffles. For more information or to download Walker forms please visit http://walkbyc.org/.
The Her Times 5K Run/Walk benefiting SafeNet will be held on October 11 at Presque Isle State Park’s Rotary Pavilion. Proceeds from the race benefit SafeNet Domestic Violence Safety Network. The Her Times 5K Run/Walk is brought to you by Her Times, The Erie Runner’s Club and ErieMoms.com. Download the application.
