Erie is mentioned briefly in this Vanity Fair cover story about Tina Fey. Fey was able to get her husband’s parents to meet Sarah Palin at her Erie rally through her connections with the McCain campaign and SNL – not to mention her dead-on impression.
East 12th Street will remain closed between Bacon Street and Franklin Avenue until Thursday afternoon due to damage caused by a water main break. The water main break started on East 12th, but water flowed down Franklin Avenue, stranding cars on East Lake Road and flooding homes on Chautauqua Boulevard.
According to recent testing, Erie’s drinking water has been found to have trace amounts of several pharmaceuticals as well as caffeine and a nicotine derivative. Many cities have this in their water supply, but the levels are so minute that there is no health risk. Water Works Chief Executive Paul Vojtek said the levels are so low that someone would need to drink 25 million gallons of water to have the equivalent of a single 200 mg ibuprofen tablet. Better get drinking if you want to get rid of that headache.
As expected Philip Friedman, the attorney for Teri Rhodes, appeared before Judge William Cunningham yesterday. In the motions, Friedman called Rhodes’ sentencing a “sham” asked Judge Cunningham to reduce or vacate the 9 to 18 year sentence and remove himself from the case, and that Cunningham violated the constitutional rights of Rhodes. Rhodes is currently at the Erie County Prison awaiting transfer to a state prison. Friedman also asked yesterday that she be released on bond during the appeals process. No decision has been made by Judge Cunningham as of yet.
Robert J. Burt, former assistant chief of the Lake Shore Fire Department, was sentenced yesterday to two years of probation for conspiring to pull false file alarms at three volunteer fire halls, including his own. He was one of seven defendants charged with pulling the alarms as pranks. Burt lost his position with the fire department and his job as a call taker at the county 911 operations center after pleading guilty.
Rick Zemanek of Erie gets a mention in the San Diego Union Tribune for catching a buck and a doe. The first deer for Zemanek in five years. The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates 60% of this season’s total buck kill was made by yesterday by sundown.
Erie is placed in a not so favorable spotlight in an article on CIOToday.com. Calling it a midsize city, a job recruiter from Chicago said Erie along with a number of other rust belt cities are not as desirable for people to relocate for a job. The most attractive locations are big cities along the coasts.
Sports
The Erie BayHawks topped the Austin Toros last night, 95-85. The BayHawks visit the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Wednesday night. The BayHawks will return to Erie for their home opener versus the Iowa Energy next week on Thursday, December 11, at 7 p.m. The first 1000 fans through the gate will receive a pair of Thundersticks.
The Erie Otters host their Fan Club Fundraiser today at Max and Erma’s, 2078 Interchange Road. Download a coupon here and 20% of your lunch, dinner, or carryout order will benefit the Erie Otters Fan Club. The Otters are in action again tomorrow night at Kitchener.
Mercyhurst college senior linebacker Bryan Boyce has been named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Football First Team. Boyce is the first ever Mercyhurst football player to earn first team Academic All-American honors. The Academic All-America team honors student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher and are in at least their sophomore year of college. Boyce, a native of Hubbard, Ohio, currently has a 3.81 grade point average as a biology major and was a key component of this year’s Laker defense.
Events
Pennsylvania writer Tom Noyes will read from his work at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 in room 2W16 of the Memorial Student Center on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. Noyes has taught in the creative writing programs at Indiana State University and Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. Now a consulting editor for Lake Effect, he teaches at Penn State-The Behrend College in Erie, Pa.
Erie’s downtown d’Lights will be held Friday, December 5th beginning at 6 p.m. The annual lighting of downtown Erie kicks of the Christmas Season with a number of events.
Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre will present “A Tuna Christmas.” Ridiculous characters from the insane town of Tuna, Texas compete in an over-the-top seasonal decorating contest. The production does include some mature language. All performances will begin at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras St. Ticket prices for the general public are $5. For more information, contact the Theatre at 814-871-7493 or at 814-871-7720. Shows run December 4, 5, 6, and December 11, 12, 13, 14.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: This concert will be the annual Christmas Concert Sing-Along with the St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Children’s Choir and choral director Sharon Downey on Friday, December 5. The performance is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, 130 East 4th St. Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra is conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright. For more information call 814-871-7755.
Galleries downtown and throughout Erie will host a holiday-themed Gallery Night on Friday, December 5th, from 7-10 pm. Participating galleries include Accents By The Bay, Allen Stoneware Gallery, Artworks, Bayfront Gallery, Cummings Gallery at Mercyhurst College, Geary’s Studio 7 Gallery, Glass Growers Gallery, Kada Gallery, Ralph Miller Jewelers & Gallery, Urraro Gallery and the galleries at the Erie Art Museum. Visitors will have a chance to get a start on their holiday shopping, and may even win a $50 gift certificate.
Erie Dance Conservatory presents “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” which runs from December 5 – 7 and will be held in the Hirt Auditorium at the Blasco Library. For more information call (814) 476-7123.
The Allegheny College Choirs will present their annual Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium on the Allegheny campus. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ward Jamison, Allegheny’s director of choral activities, at (814) 332-3305.
Start your holiday season with learning how to dance the Argentine Tango and enjoy a Milonga (Argentine dance party) immediately thereafter. Lessons and Milonga are free and light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Join your hosts Katherine and Cliff Dahl for an enjoyable evening just in time for the holidays. Reservations are required by call Katherine Dahl at 716-720-0509 or email at katherine.dahl@att.net Call today. Reservations are limited. December 6, 2008 8:30 pm to 11:30pm LDS Church at 1101 S. Hill Rd., Erie, 16509
Jr’s Last Laugh Comedy Club will host a breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 6th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event is free with cookies and donuts from Jack Frost Donuts, and juice, milk, and coffee. There will also be face painting, coloring, and crafts.
The School House Craft Festival will be held at McDowell Intermediate High School on Saturday, December 6th from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for those over age 65, $2 for children 11 and over, and free for children under 10. The festival will feature over 100 crafters, and auction, refreshments, and appearances by Santa each day.
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.
