In case you missed it yesterday, we’re giving away 3 $25 gift certificates to local restaurants. We’re totally in the holiday spirit. Read more and enter here.
Be careful driving today. For the most up-to-date forecast and conditions, check out the WSEE weather box in the column to the right of this post.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Bureau of Licensing notified certain businesses across the state that they may not provide services with casinos. Five vendors were singled out where an owner, officer or director with either a felony conviction or felony charge, could no longer continue to do business with Pennsylvania casinos pending a final determination by the Board. In Erie, Art’s Landscaping & Supply must halt providing services to Presque Isle Downs & Casino. No additional details as to who or what the charges are.
Presque Isle State Park staff reported about 60 dead birds at the state park. The cause is avian botulism which can be traced to decaying algae. The problem is that zebra mussels are aggravating the matter. Here’s why: (1) zebra mussels make the water cleaner which creates more of a certain kind of algae, (2) more algae than normal is produced, and as a result, more algae dies releasing botulism, (3) the zebra mussels absorb the botulism as they filter the lake water, and are eaten by the birds.
Erie and Crawford Counties have submitted funding requests to the state for their West Nile prevention and control programs for 2009.
The United Way of Erie County is giving out 375 weatherizing kits to local charitable agencies. The following organizations have the kits: Booker T. Washington Center, Salvation Army, St. Martin’s Center, John F. Kennedy Center, Hispanic American Council, Erie Center On Health And Aging, Vision And Blindness Resources, Central City East Neighborhood Watch, GECAC, Bayfront NATO, Inc., MLK Jr. Center. Better late the never, we suppose.
Work began today on inflating the new sports dome complex at Edinboro University. In addition to sports and recreation, the dome will be used for events like commencement.
A New York State Trooper from Jamestown was flown to Hamot Hospital after his vehicle rolled over while in pursuit of a speeding vehicle. The trooper hit a patch of ice causing his car to roll over several times and eventually ejected him from the vehicle. Although the official report states the trooper was wearing his seat belt, we’re wondering how he managed to be thrown from the car.
The Roar on the Shore Board of Directors presented a $70,000 check to administrators at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Erie which was the charity chosen to benefit from the Roar on the Shore bike rally. The event drew more than 25,000 people to downtown Erie in July of this year and it is expected even more will attend the next Roar on the Shore bike rally scheduled for July 16-19, 2009. Proceeds from the 2009 event will benefit the needs of returning Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families.
VisitErie, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Great Lakes Region (PGLR) and in cooperation with Mercyhurst College HRIM (Hotel/Restaurant Institutional Management) students, recently completed a Conversion Study, analyzing information from individuals who had requested vacation information on the Pennsylvania Great Lakes Region. The 2008 Study was conducted in September 2008 covering the spring and summer season. A total of 1,500 questionnaires were mailed at random. Return questionnaires produced an above average response rate of 17%, approximately 260 responses. On a grading scale of 1-5 with 5 being excellent, 46% of those polled rated their trip as very good and 38% rated it excellent. Also, 43% of the individuals were first time visitors to the PA Great Lakes Region; of those, 99% would plan to revisit the area. 57% had visited the Region before.
Joshua James Shaw, assistant professor of philosophy at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, has published a new book challenging critics of 20th century philosopher and Talmudic scholar Emmanuel Levinas. Emmanuel Levinas on the Priority of Ethics: Putting Ethics First
Carla Bluhm, a developmental psychologist and visiting assistant professor at Allegheny College, and Nathan Clendenin, Allegheny class of 2007, have recently completed a book on the psychology of face transplants. “Someone Else’s Face in the Mirror: Identity and the New Science of Face Transplants” begins with the story of Isabelle Dinoire, the recipient of the first face transplant, her surgery and her battles with tissue rejection.
New movies for a snowy weekend: Yes Man, Seven Pounds, The Tale of Desperaux, The Wrestler.
Sports
The Erie BayHawks saw their winning streak come to end with a 102-79 loss to the Dakota Wizards last night in a home game at the Tullio. Today the Hawks are on the road playing the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Note to the Bayhawks: the recap links on your website don’t work.
The Otters are home this weekend playing the Guelph Storm night, and the Sudbury Wolves on tomorrow.
The Gannon men’s basketball team shook off the rust from a 15-day layoff and final exams week midway through the first half and coasted to a 92-55 victory over NCAA Division II Independent Urbana Thursday night at the Hammermill Center. The victory completes a season sweep of the Blue Knights, who dropped a 78-42 home decision to the Golden Knights in the 2008-09 season opener.
The No. 10 Mercyhurst wrestling team posted two wins in dual competition Thursday at Mercyhurst North East, defeating Seton Hill University 34-3 before beating the host Saints 37-10. Seton Hill defeated Mercyhurst North East 43-4.
The Edinboro women’s basketball team used a big advantage at the free throw line to post an 82-63 win over visiting Central State(OH) on Thursday night. The Fighting Scots made 30 of 36 from the charity stripe, while the Lady Marauders were 12 of 21. Edinboro is now 5-3, while Central State fell to 6-4.
The Allegheny women’s basketball team lots its final game of 2008 to Pitt-Greensburg, 82-62, on Thursday night. Stephanie Wolf (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) scored 22 points for the Gators.
Events
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will hold its fall 2008 commencement ceremony on Friday, December 19, in the college’s Junker Center. The ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m. and will confer eight associate, 162 bachelor’s and 20 graduate degrees. Summer graduates participating in the ceremony have received an additional five associate degrees, 46 bachelor’s degrees, and 23 graduate degrees.
On December 21 there will be a Sunday Brunch at the Watson-Curtze Mansion from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The brunch includes admission to the museum’s annual exhibit Victorian Holidays: Whimsical Wonderland, with a selection that may include: Quiche Lorraine, Egg Sausage Casserole, Dried Tomato Tart, Special Potato Casserole, and Ham. The cost is $15 per person and reservations are required. Call (814) 454-1813 Ext. 0.
The Erie Playhouse Youtheatre will be offering classes in acting, singing for the stage, and musical theatre dance beginning January 17th, 2009. Classes run seven weeks (until February 28th) and are held on Saturdays. An Audition Workshop will be held March 7th, 2009. For more information and to register, visit http://www.erieplayhouse.org/education/youtheatre-classes/.
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.
