Sometime during the early morning hours Friday, the website of WICU 12 was hacked and text described as “offensive” was added to a story about Sarah Palin. The WICU 12 website was designed and is hosted by Velocity Networks. A commenter put it this way.
It’s not surprising. We all know that the local stations have no idea how to embrace and capitalize on the web. That’s why we all come to ErieBlogs.
Gas prices in Erie seem to be hovering about $2.59 and about $2.65 in Meadville. I (Mike) was in Ashtabula today where prices were $2.19 and here in Avon I’ve seen it as low at $2.10. Gas price fail on us.
Jeffrey J. Johnson, a local real estate broker, has resigned from the City Planning Commission. The commission is responsible for zoning change recommendations. Johnson received $30,000 from the development company run by Greg Rubino, Tecnica Development. Tecnica had business before the Zoning Hearing Board, which Johnson also resigned from earlier this summer.
The latest quarterly adjustment from National Fuel goes into effect today, with rates going down 10%. You’ll still feel it this winter, with prices still up an average of 14% compared to the same time last year.
Three counterfeit bills were passed at Presque Isle Downs on Thursday. One was a $50 bill and one was $100. The bills have been turned over to the Secret Service. That didn’t stop MTR Gaming from posting revenues of $131.4 million in the third quarter. Despite that gain, MTR reported a third-quarter loss of $8.2 million Friday, or 30 cents a share. Revenues at Presque Isle Downs rose to $51.5 million.
The Edinboro branch of the Erie County Library will close today at 5 p.m. and will remain closed until December when they move into their new location. Staff will spend November packing up and moving all the books and materials. You can still drop off books at the location, or use any other location around town.
The Joyce trial was off Friday. Testimony will resume Monday in Pittsburgh.
Paying for college—today, perhaps never as important or daunting for many families—is the subject of an essay in this week’s issue of U.S. News & World Report by Allegheny College Vice President for Enrollment and Communications Scott Friedhoff. The article, along with corresponding minute-long YouTube videos aimed at eliminating confusion and anxiety from planning for college, is also available on a recently launched Web site, CollegeSearch101.org. Visitors can also access the clips directly via the CollegeSearch101 page on Facebook, the popular social networking site.
The Erie Art Museum has been chosen to participate in Heritage Preservation’s 2008 Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). The Erie Art Museum joins 2,500 museums that have participated in CAP since the program began in 1990. Heritage Preservation’s CAP is supported through a cooperative agreement with the federal Institute of Museum and Library Sciences.
A Conneaut Lake clown is under investigation for harrasing a 14-year-old child during “Haunted Conneaut” at Conneaut Lake Park. One area of the park was called Clown Town and is described, according to the website, as such: “These clowns we’ve chosen specifically for the incredible delight they take in making your exit nearly impossible. Clown Town is full of broken down rides and buildings. A clown could be hiding just about anywhere. And what’s that sound? No we didn’t – we did not give these insane maniac clowns chainsaws, did we?” No charges have been filed.
Movies opening this weekend: Zack and Miri Make a Porno, The Haunting of Molly Hartley, Changeling, Rocknrolla.
Sports
High School Football
Cathedral Prep 50 Central Tech 0
Warren 15 Northwestern 7
General McClane 28 Fairview 17
Corry 28 Bradford 27
North East 28 Girard 14
Titusville 21 Franklin 14
Strong Vincent 42 Meadville 6
Union City 28 Mercyhurst Prep 7
Harborcreek 21 Maplewood 14
Linesville 53 Conneaut Lake 14
Ryan O’Reilly ignited a four-goal third period as the Erie Otters beat the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-2 in an Ontario Hockey League game played tonight in front of 4,146 at the Essar Centre. Mike Cazzola, Justin Hodgman and Zack Torquato also scored for the Otters, who won for the second straight time to improve to 7-8-1-0 on the season. The Otters complete their trip through Northern Ontario tonight when they travel to Sudbury to meet the Wolves. The game can be heard live on FOX Sports Radio AM 1330 The FAN and on-line at www.ottershockey.com.
The Gannon University men’s and women’s swimming teams competed in their first event of the 2008 season Friday night at the Westminster Relay, with each team placing second in the meet.
The Gannon men’s basketball team has picked up its third and fourth preseason national rankings. The preseason honors include three national top-10 picks and two No. 3 rankings. Most recently, the Golden Knights are tabbed No. 3 according to the Basketball Times NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 and No. 10 in the National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) Preseason Top 25. Both were released Thursday afternoon.
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team suffered its third straight loss Friday evening, falling to Colgate, 4-3, at the Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y. With the loss, the Lakers fall to 3-4 on the season and match their longest losing streak since the 2005-06 season.
Events
Prospective students are invited to visit Mercyhurst West for an Open House on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the West facility, 824 Main Street East, Girard. Learn about West’s associate degree programs, admissions and financial aid, and tour the facility. Call (814) 774-0704 for more information.
One day after the election, retired Army General and Erie County Judge Michael Dunlavey will provide his insights into how the new presidential administration will handle foreign policy and the war in Iraq at a presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Alex Theater on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 West Division Street, North East. The presentation is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.
The 24th “Festival of Trees” will soon be upon us. This year the event is held at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center, 7794 Peach Street. The festivities begin on November 26th. Come join the fun with over 50 professionally decorated trees. Some of the main attractions this year include the marketplace and live entertainment. Please be sure to vote for your favorite tree and tell Santa everything you want for Christmas. The price of the event is adults $5.00 and children (3-12) $2.50. Help us celebrate the season; all proceeds go to help support the Saint Vincent Cancer Center. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Saint Vincent Health Center Gift Shop or at the doors of the festival.
Christmas is around the corner and the Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring bells for their annual Red Kettle Drive. This highly rewarding experience will begin November 20th and continue through December 24th. Volunteers ring bells at one of 30 kettle locations in the greater Erie area from anytime between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. All the money raised stays within the Erie region to provide shelter for the homeless, after school activities, programs for seniors and the Army’s Christmas food and toy distribution. Individuals and groups interested in volunteering are asked to contact the Salvation Army at 454-6497 to schedule a date.
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.
