Research 2000 released a new poll yesterday in the 3rd District Congressional race. The new poll of 400 likely voters showed Kathy Dahlkemper to have a 7 point lead over incumbent Phil English, 48% to 41%. The poll had margin of error of 5 points.  Research 2000 conducted the poll for Daily Kos, a liberal blog that focuses on politics.

The last presidential debate is tonight at 9 p.m. at Hofstra University.

A judge has ruled that financial information can be used against former state Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce. He is charged with filing false information to get a large insurance settlement, which he spent on plastic surgery for his girlfriend, an airplane, hot tub, motorcycle and more. The prosecution contends Joyce was having financial troubles, despite making over $160,000 a year when he was on the bench. Joyce’s trial is set to start on Monday.

Keystone Edge is a new online magazine that discusses the latest news on emerging tech sectors and industries in Pennsylvania (including Erie).  You can subscribe by email with new content every Thursday including essays, photographs, and video with highlights of new businesses, places to live, and individual profiles from across the state. The publisher of Keystone Edge also has a number of other similar websites including POP City (focusing on Pittsburgh) and Model D (focusing on the Detroit Metro).

A east side woman was trapped in her house yesterday when she her way was blocked by a raccoon. The animal appeared to be rabid and would not leave the premises. City of Erie police were called and they used a bean bag gun on the animal. Bean bags are non-lethal on humans but not raccoons. We suspect the animal will be tested for rabies.

The Erie Community Foundation officially opened their new home yesterday at 459 West 6th Street. The house was the former Siegel-McDougle House, and was built in 1905. Julius C. Siegel, born in 1856, was a leading Erie businessman and a managing partner of the Erie Oil Works. Erie Community Foundation CEO Michael Batchelor wrote an op-ed for us last December. You can read it here.

The fate of Lovell Place located at 13th and French is still unknown.  The owners have yet to present a reorganization plan to bring the partnership that owns it out of bankruptcy.  There are a number of residential units and government offices located in the building, as well as Matthew’s Trattoria.

Governor Edward G. Rendell enlisted more than 350 community leaders from across the state today to help ensure that every Pennsylvania family can safely heat their home this winter while coping with skyrocketing energy costs. As part of the 2008 Stay Warm PA Summit, the Governor also announced $280 million in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps Pennsylvanians having trouble paying their heating bills and facing heating emergencies like shut-offs.

Students, teachers, and other staff at Conneaut Lake High School had a not so nice surprise yesterday when a bomb threat note was found (but no bomb).

ISO of Jersey City, N.J. will provide Erie Insurance with its FlightDeck customized property survey management system. FlightDeck is an intelligent Web-based system for managing on-site surveys of residential and commercial properties.

Sports

The Erie Otters play at home tonight against the Niagara IceDogs. Game time is 7 p.m. and you can purchase tickets or listen to the game online live.

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime 3-2 last night. Pascal Dupuis scored the game winner.

The Erie Bayhawks have received the 7th pick in the first round of the November 7 NBA D-League Draft. The draft will be streamed online for free.

The Gannon men’s soccer team dropped two spots and is ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released Tuesday afternoon.

The Allegheny women’s soccer team scored three first-half goals and went on to win, 3-0, over Oberlin on Tuesday at home.

Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., has joined fellow NCAA Division II presidents and chancellors and signed a pledge to strive to provide a positive game environment at all athletics events that take place on the Gannon campus. Division II leadership plans to have pledge signatures from presidents and chancellors from all 302 member schools by the end of the year.

The all-Air Force slow-pitch softball team earned a silver medal, taking second place to the all-Army team.  The only officer on the Air Force team,  Captain Bill “Mamo” Mamourieh, used to play outfielder/infielder positions for Mercyhurst College.

Events

Phil English will not be at the “Meet the Candidate” luncheon tomorrow in Girard due to a scheduling conflict.  Instead District Director Regina Smith for the Congressman will be speaking instead. The event will be held at Hunter Jacks Restaurant with a buffet style lunch will be served promptly at noon, cost is $8.00 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (814) 774-3535.

The Third Annual Friends of Mercyhurst College Art Show, now on display on the first floor of Old Main, includes an eclectic collection of art works. Like its predecessors, it was assembled by Mary Gamble, wife of college President Dr. Thomas J. Gamble, who invited a wide range of artists with ties to Mercyhurst to show their work. The show includes more than 75 pieces by about 50 artists.

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) will hold its grand opening today.  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.  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.

Award-winning novelist Mylene Dressler will read from her work at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 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.

View this past Sunday’s comprehensive events list to see a list of events for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form.  Tomorrow we will publish a new list of events for the week and months ahead.