Tonight is the last Erie Block Party of the summer, which will be held at Scully’s Pub with performer Money Shot. The theme of the party is “80′s on State” with the designated charity SafeNet.
As expected, Kenneth Barnes has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and aiding and abetting in the Brian Wells case. Some other facts about the case have been announced. From the wire story:
According to Barnes, Wells got cold feet on the day of the robbery, refusing to put on the collar bomb after realizing it was real. Another plotter then fired a single shot from a gun, scaring him into putting it around his neck.
Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is also suspected to be part of the plot but has been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. Barnes will be sentenced on December 3.
Former Erie School District teacher Erica Baker, of Corry, pled guilty to corruption of a minor. In exchange, two other corruption charges were dropped and she agreed to give up her teaching license (wasn’t that a given?). Baker is accused of having consensual sex with a 16 year old student from Strong Vincent High School last summer. Baker is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23 and could spend up to five years in prison.
210 businesses listed in a new feature on the PA Department of Revenue’s website owe the commonwealth more then $6.3 million in sales and/or employer withholding taxes. There are three business in the Erie area included on the list. One is Erie Mill and Press Co. (doing business as EMPCO), which owes the state $10,289.29. Second is Klimek Molding Corporation in Girard, which owes $5,342.30. Finally, Richard Lawlor (doing business as Water Rite of Erie) of Fairview owes $48,785.80.
The United Way of Erie County kicked off it’s 2008 fund raising drive yesterday. They aren’t setting a monetary goal, instead trying to help as many people and agencies in the community as possible. You can download a brochure here.
JPMorgan Chase has stopped marketing products such as interest-rate swaps to municipalities. They say they aren’t making enough money on the deals, though the Erie School District may disagree. JPMorgan is under investigation as part of a federal antitrust probe of derivative sales.
Steven Porter is considering appealing a judge’s ruling yesterday that said he cannot be on the ballot this fall for the 3rd Congressional District Seat. The judge said 1,500 signatures were invalid.
This Week in Tech hosted by Leo Laporte (the former host of the cable show Screen Savers) reported on Erie blogger Eden’s lawsuit with Universal on his weekly program This Week in Tech. You can listen to the commentary during the August 25th netcast at time marker 30:38.
Waldameer’s blog, Waldablog, finally made its surprise announcement yesterday. Waldameer won the Best New Ride of 2008 for an Amusement Park by the industry magazine Amusement Today. Owner Paul Nelson and president Steve Gorman traveled to the magazine’s Golden Ticket award ceremony in Florida to receive the award. They’ve also announced a new ride coming the park, but that was all they said. No specifics, type or name, just they’re going to check out a new ride for possible inclusion in 2009.
There’s a new face beginning Monday, September 15, on JET-TV’s Action News 24. Selena Wiles will join Sean Lafferty at the evening news desk. Selena is from West Virginia, is 30 years old, and has spent the last five years reporting and anchoring the 5-6pm news at WJHL-TV in Johnson City, Tennessee. Welcome to Erie Selena!
In case you missed it, we published an editorial by John Bartlett who is a Field Representative for Friends of Allegheny Wilderness, a Warren-based nonprofit. In his op-ed, he shares the mission of Friends of Allegheny Wilderness and some of the programs they are working on.
On September 15, be sure to hit up the Tops Market on E. 38th Street, where the PA Lottery will be handing out 200 free Quinto tickets. Quinto is their new twice-daily number game.
One of the area’s most accomplished poets, Berwyn Moore recently had one of her poems featured on American Life in Poetry. Moore dedicated the poem, titled “Driving to Camp Lend-A-Hand,” to her daughter, Emma Grace.
The Allegheny College Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies will present a 10-week Middle East film series Thursday, Sept. 11 through Thursday, Dec. 4. The series’ opening film, “Cease Fire” (Iran, 2006), is a romantic comedy about a spitfire professional and her love interest. All of the films will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Room 212 of Carnegie Hall and are free and open to the public.
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.
September Events
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.
