Erie is the featured city in this weeks Keystone Edge, a website dedicated to discussing the new economy in Pennsylvania.  Right along with Erie, the featured growth company is Kold-Draft of Erie which manufacturers ice-cube machines.  Finally, there is an article featuring INRange Systems of Altoona and its new drug dispensing machine to be released next month.  INRange was co-founded by Mary Ann Papp who formerly worked as a cardiologist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center here in Erie, where the initial development of the idea took place.

East 12th Street is reopened to traffic.  The Erie Water Authority took care of a water main break that occurred this past Sunday night.

The FirstMerit Bank in Amherst, Ohio was robbed yesterday. Normally we wouldn’t post news from another city except the suspected robber is the same guy who held up the PNC banks here in Erie.  And yet again, he leaves a clear shot of his face.  We think this guy is just crying out for attention and wants to get caught.  And despite a comment from a reader, we don’t think he looks anything like Kevin McKidd (o.k. maybe just a little).

The host of MSNBC’s Hardball, Chris Matthews, is considering a run for the U.S. Senate.  One of the possibilities Matthews is looking at is Pennsylvania, in particular to unseat Senator Arlen Specter.

Is it just us, or does WJET/WFXP’s website, yourerie.com, not have a link on their main page to either channel’s program guide?  Although after some digging we found a program guide for WFXP and WJET, we get server errors for both.  Call us crazy but this seems to be something visitors are probably looking for.  It’s comparable to a restaurant website without an online menu. (P.S. Forum posts are not real blogs.)

Joel Bonilla-Rosado of Schuylkill County pled guilty to possession of cocaine and stealing an automobile. As part of his sentencing, Rosado has to pay Erie Insurance $15,533.94 to cover the cost of replacing the automobile.

Speaking of Erie Insurance, if you’re looking for that unique something special for the Erie history buff, you can purchase a copy of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Automobile Insurance: Samuel P. Black Jr. and the Rise of Erie Insurance, 1923-1961 for a paltry sum of $150.00 on various internet book dealers.  It was published in 2001 by Sam Black and Penn State Behrend professor John Rossi.  Rossi recently wrote a sobering article on how he believes the economy is heading toward a depression much like the one experienced early last century.

Erie Insurance reported that it had 1.7 million auto policies in effect for the month of October and has not seen a decline since the economy started to go south.

Sports

Zack Torquato scored two goals and an assist in regulation and added a shoot out goal as the Erie Otters upset the Windsor Spitfires for the second time this season, posting a 5-4 shootout victory in front of 2,743 at the Tullio Arena. Andrew Yogan and Shawn Szydlowski netted the other Otters goals in regulation while Brandon Biggers collected three assists and Ryan O’Reilly two. O’Reilly also netted the shoot out winner as the Otters out scored the Spitfires 2-1 in penalty shots. The Otters play the Sarnia Sting tonight at the Lou.

The NBA Development League Erie BayHawks started to show the wear and tear of an extended road trip losing big to the Sioux Falls Skyforce 93-67. The Skyforce were led by forward Bobby Jones’ double-double, knocking down 26 points and clearing 15 rebounds. Erik Daniels again led the BayHawks with a double-double scoring 20 points and hauling down 14 rebounds. The BayHawks wrap up their five-game, nine day road trip, Saturday night against the Dakota Wizards. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on Jet Radio 1400 AM.

NFL Sunday Games:
Cleveland plays at Tennessee on Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS/WSEE.
Miami plays at Buffalo at 4 p.m. on CBS.
Dallas plays at Pittsburgh on Sunday at 4:15 p.m. on Fox/WFXP.

Events

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.

All An Act Theatre Productions Presents “Caught in The Net.” Plot: It seems taxi driver John Smith is still successfully managing his 2 wives and 2 lives. However, his teenage children, a girl from one wife and a boy from the other, have met on the Internet and are anxious to meet in person since they have so much in common, particularly a taxi driving dad named John Smith.  The play runs Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. from November 14th – December 6th (No show Nov 28 black Friday); Sundays at 3:00 p.m., November 23rd, 30th & December 7th.  The play will be held at  652 West 17th Street; Adult ticket price $8, and students and seniors $5.00.  For more information or on-line tickets visit www.allanact.net.

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.