If you’re reading this, you’re seeing our new site. Here’s a post with more information about it. Don’t worry, until all the domains get transferred, you’ll notice our domain for the moment is burghblogs.com. It’s just a placeholder. Now, on to today’s post. ErieBlogs readers = stunned.

Senators McCain and Obama engaged in the second debate of the presidential election last night with the last debate scheduled for October 15. ABC News Radio correspondent Aaron Katersky reported from Erie last night during the debate along with a group of local voters.

Former PA Governor Tom Ridge and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann will be stumping for John McCain at Perry Square today at 9 a.m. The two will be traveling south after the Perry Square event to Meadville (312 Chestnut Street at 11:15 a.m.), Mercer (124 S. Diamond Street at 1:20 p.m.), Butler (107 College Drive at 4 p.m.), and Latrobe (Sharky’s Cafe on Route 30 at 7:00 p.m.). Joining Ridge and Swann will be Capt. Jerry Coffee, U.S. Rep. Phil English, Erie County Chairman Brad Moore, and Country music musician Sammy Kershaw.

The Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College will host a debate for the candidates for U.S. Congress, Pennsylvania District 3, tonight at 7 p.m. in Ford Chapel.  The 70-minute debate between Democratic candidate Kathy Dahlkemper and Republican candidate Phil English will be co-moderated by Allegheny College Professor of Political Science Daniel M. Shea and WSEE TV news anchor Jacqueline Policastro.

A collaborative effort among professionals in the science, art, manufacturing, engineering and design industries has spurred the launch of a northwest Pennsylvania product design competition. The contest – InnovationErie: Design Competition – allows people in northwest Pennsylvania to showcase their product ideas, with the possibility of taking them to the next level—the marketplace. The competition seeks ideas for products that can be manufactured in the Erie region. Here is more information if you’re interested.

Waldameer is beginning work on a new ride along with a bigger midway and picnic areas. The new ride will be a Mega Disk’O ride. The ride, which is pictured here, will take 24 riders back and forth on a fixed ramp. It will be located on the south end of the park where the Sky Ride turns around. The ride will open in 2009. Also on the drawing board – a Flying Carousel, which will be located in the L. Ruth Express turn around area, near the Ravine Flyer II hill. The Carousel should open in 2010.

Note to VisitErie, Erie Chamber, Downtown Partnership and more: check out this great program being put on by Indianapolis. Something like this in Erie would really generate interest, both by residents and tourists.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced that the annual steelhead run out of Lake Erie has begun. Due to heavy rains in the area last week, the Lake has swelled adjoining tributaries and caused the steelhead fish to start heading up out of the lake. The commission has put to good use Google maps to show where fishing is plentiful on its steelhead webpage.

Tops Markets announced an agreement with Tim Hortons to bring Tim Hortons coffee and other products to Tops stores by the end of the year. Tops has two Erie locations and is located at West 26th and Washington, and on East 38th near Zimmerman.

Carnegie Science Center’s Regional SciTech Initiative, Bayer Corporation, and Pittsburgh Filmmakers invite all Erie area teens to start thinking “green” and making films for the fifth annual C.A.U.S.E Challenge High School Film Festival. The deadline is Monday, March 2, 2009, with chances to compete for cash and other prizes, both for themselves and their schools. For more information visit the competition website.

Robert F. Ruyak, of Erie, a member of Gannon’s class of 1971 and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, will be recognized by Legal Times as one of its “30 Visionaries.” Ruyak is the managing partner, Chairman and CEO at Howrey LLP, an international law firm in Washington, D.C.

Sports

FSN Pittsburgh will telecast the football game between Allegheny College and Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 3:30 p.m., marking the first time the Gators will be televised nationally since 1990, when Allegheny won the NCAA Division III National Championship. Kick-off for the Oct. 11 contest is set for 3:30 p.m. at Allegheny’s Frank B. Fuhrer Field. Admission is free.

The Erie Otters announced they have acquired 19 year-old defenseman Chris Breen, who stands 6′ 7″ and could mistakenly be identified as a NBA player. Breen has played 125 career OHL games which is impressive considering his young age.

The Erie BayHawks will host the second in a series of three free agent tryouts this Saturday October 11 and Sunday October 12, at the James A. Rhodes Arena at The University of Akron. Check in and registration ($150-no personal checks or credit cards) is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with tryout sessions beginning promptly at 7:30 and running through 10:30 PM. The Sunday sessions will run 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.

The Mercyhurst women’s volleyball team rallied from two sets down for the second time this year, defeating Slippery Rock Tuesday night 16-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-6.

The Gannon University women’s soccer team beat Lock Haven 3-1 Tuesday afternoon, strengthening their grasp on first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West in the process. Amanda Sharbaugh (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season in the victory. The Gannon men’s soccer team pulled off one of its biggest rallies in recent memory to stay in the thick of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) post-season hunt Tuesday afternoon. The Golden Knights overcame a 2-0 deficit and rallied for a 2-2 double-overtime tie at Lock Haven.

Allegheny College cross country athletes Tony Dipre (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Katie Stancik (Russell, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) have been named the North Coast Athletic Conference male and female runners of the week for their efforts at Pre-Nationals.

The NBA Development League Erie BayHawks will host the second in a series of three free agent tryouts in Akron, Saturday October 11 and Sunday October 12, at the James A. Rhodes Arena at The University of Akron.

Events

Integrative Wellness Options, a diversified holistic therapies clinic (located in the same building with the Whole Foods Cooperative and next to World of Music on 26th Street) announces its grand opening to be held on Wednesday, October 15th.  The clinic offers the professional services of over 10 practitioners in one location and various alternative therapies including therapeutic deep tissue and Swedish massage, cranial sacral therapy, and more (we’re partial to the Swedish massages).  During the open house, practitioners will be offering lectures every hour from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ().  Healthy refreshments will be served, and tours of the new facility will be offered throughout the day. For additional information call (814) 459-2030, or visit the clinic’s website.

Young Erie Professionals will be hosting its October Happy Hour at Rum Runners Cove (located on the dock) Thursday, October 9, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  It’ll be a great opportunity to make new connections and to check out the new restaurant on Erie’s Bayfront.

Mercyhurst West invites high school students to attend the Great High School Cookout at Mercyhurst West, 824 Main Street East, Girard, on Wednesday, October 8, from 6 – 8 p.m. There will be free hamburgers and hot dogs and a chance to win prizes, including an iPod Shuffle. Tours of the West facility and a Q&A session about programs and financial aid will also be offered. Reservations are required. Call (814) 774-0704 for more information.

GMD Films is proud to announce the World Theaterical Premiere of “House of Bedlam”, the newest Horror / Thriller from one of Erie’s top Indie Film Studio’s. In the early 1800’s a Brothel in the Town of Bedlam was lynched by the Fundamentalist Church of their day. Now, 200 years later, a group of college students on a botany expedition stumble upon the remains of the ‘House of Bedlam’ and discover that the ghosts of the woman killed there remain and the whole town is in on the secret. Featuring Katie Russell, Jeremy Krukowski and Larry Laverty of Television’s “The Practice”, “Judging Amy” and “Mad TV”. Saturday, October 11th at 10:00 p.m. at Theater 145. Tickets are $6.00 and include the After Party featuring live music by Erie’s Sudden Impulse and Shag Nazty.