The PA Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch today for 29 counties in the western half of the state including Erie (Harrisburg doesn’t realize we have a big lake we can draw water from). Issued along with the watch is a voluntary 5 percent reduction in non-essential water use. The last three months has registered below normal levels of precipitation.
Speaking of weather it will hover around 50 degrees for the weekend, with sun today and rain expected tomorrow. There may be snow during the night.
Ohio voters this week voted against Issue 6 which would have allowed casino gambling in the state. About 63 percent of Ohio voters opposed the measure meaning that for now, Cleveland area residents will be coming to Erie to lose their money at Presque Isle Downs & Casino.
Con-way Freight will close its service center terminal in Mentor, Ohio along with 43 other facilities around North America. The Ann Arbor, Michigan based company is closing or consolidating various locations as part of a reorganization process. Erie may see extra freight business as a result of the closing.
Governor Rendell announced $15.6 million will be distributed PA tourism promotion agencies in order to boost tourism promotion efforts across the commonwealth, especially in the area of regional marketing. The distribution of money will be determined by a new formula that weighs a number of factors including an agency’s eligible expenses, hotel room revenues, and an evaluation of the proposed use for the funding. Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Region including Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Venango, will receive $300,000 in money. Visit will receive $132,630.
The PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold a training on the capabilities and responsibilities of the DEP Emergency Response Program (Northwest PA Office). The event is targeted toward all emergency response organizations within the area. All attendees must be at least eighteen years of age and pre-registered to attend the event. More information here.
The PA Department of Labor & Industry announced the investment of $235,000 for a project to expand the food processing industry and support regional processors’ efforts to remain competitive with national food suppliers in Northwestern PA. Members of the NWPA consortium that includes Erie, Crawford, and Warren counties, will benefit from having its employees receive training on the assimilation of new processing methods and technologies and the development of regional purchasing networks.
Sports
The Otters beat the Peterborough Petes last night 5-2. Tonight the Otters play the Windsor Spitfires at the Tulio Arena. The Otters are even for the season at 9-9-1-0.
The Erie Otters announced they have acquired Andrew Yogan and a second round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection from the Windsor Spitfires in exchange for Brandon Maxwell.
A lot of appearances are scheduled for the Otters the next few days. Sunday, November 9 is Skate with the Otters at the Ice Center of Erie. Tuesday, November 11 will be a player appearance at the Chick-Fil-A on upper peach and on Wednesday, November 12 is another appearance at Wendy’s on Pittsburgh Ave.
NFL: Cleveland already played this past Thursday against Denver, losing 34 to 30. This Sunday Buffalo will be at New England with a 1 p.m. start time and both teams have a record of 5-3 for the season. Indianapolis plays at Pittsburgh with a 4:15 p.m. start time. You can catch both the Bills and Stellers games on WSEE/CBS.
Today in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law an antitrust exemption allowing the National Football League to merge with the upstart American Football League.
College Football: Penn State plays the Iowa Hawkeyes this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. #3 PSU is playing to maintain their perfect 9-0 season. Louisville goes to Pittsburgh to play the Pitt Panthers at noon.
High School Football
(District 10 Class AAA semifinals)
Strong Vincent 35, Meadville 14
Cathedral Prep 45, Grove City 21
(District 10 Class A quarterfinals)
Mercer 28, Iroquois 14
Farrell 25, Union City 0
Saegertown 49, Sharpsville 27
Linesville 21, Cambridge Springs 7
Events
John Adams’s contemporary masterpiece–Doctor Atomic–explores a momentous episode of modern history: the creation of the atomic bomb. The performance will beheld at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center this afternoon at 1 p.m. with tickets running about $18.
The Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center presents a classical music triple header when the CityMusic Cleveland orchestra as it performs Mozart’s energetic ballet music from his opera “Idomeneo,” the profound dialogue in Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, and Beethoven’s vitality-filled Second Symphony. The concert will be held tomorrow, Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2 p.m. and tickets are about $30 depending on seating.
The McDowell Center for Performing Arts will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical The King and I in the newly renovated Little Theatre (3320 Caughey Road) on November 6-7-8, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m. and November 9, 2008 at 2 p.m. Featuring such songs as “Hello Young Lovers”, “I Whistle A Happy Tune”, “Getting To Know You”, “Shall We Dance”, “I Have Dreamed”, and so on. Reserved seat tickets for The King and I are only $5.00 and are on sale now. Call (814) 836-6925 for ticket information.
The 25th annual Holiday Craft Show will be held at Rainbow Gardens this weekend at Waldameer (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.). There will be crafters, Chinese auction, food, and a reason to bring your kids: pictures with Santa. Admission is $3.50 or $5 for the entire weekend and children under 12 are free. All proceeds benefit WQLN.
Films For Food announces it will show Michael Moore’s newest documentary Slacker Uprising at the 2008 Films For Food Event. The event is a 24 Hour Marathon of Indie Films held at Theater 145 with beginning Friday November 7th at 8:00 p.m. through Saturday the 8th with the last film beginning at 8:00 p.m., followed by a Public Reception on 10:00 p.m. The cost of admission? Food. Visit Films For Food to find out more.
The Erie Philharmonic presents A Night in Old Vienna this Satruday, featuring musical compositions by Brahms and Korngold with a special performance byRachel Barton Pine. The concert will be held one night only on Saturday, November 8, at 8:00 p.m. Purchase tickets.
