Yesterday was both the first day of winter as well as the first day of Hanukkah. Happy Hanukkah to everyone. By the way, we own at dreidel. As for winter, don’t get us started. Winter pretty much started right after Halloween this year. We’ve got to be on track for some kind of snow fall record. Right, Ray Petelin?

This morning a number of school closings and delays are reported and state police are telling people to stay home.  There also is a lake effect snow warning until 4 p.m.  Sounds like a good day to stay home and prepare for Christmas and New Years.

You’ve got just a few days left to enter our holiday gift certificate giveaway. We’re giving away three $25 gift certificates – two to Latino’s and one to George’s Restaurant. We’ll be drawing the names on Christmas Day. After all the preparations and holiday traveling and cooking, who wants to cook more food? Go out on us.

Cyril Wecht, former coroner in Allegheny County, is fighting prosectors who want to move his re-trial from Pittsburgh to Erie. Prosectors claim that there’s been too much media coverage in Pittsburgh, and Wecht is arguing that the move will add $112,000 in additional personal costs. We’re not totally up-to-date on this case, just that it’s involved lots of courtroom arguing, the US Supreme court and more. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review summized the case this way:

Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, 76, of Squirrel Hill, is accused of using his public office for private gain and of defrauding clients of his private pathology consulting business. The world-renowned forensic pathologist is charged with 41 counts of fraud and theft.

If there is a new economic stimulus package announced when Barack Obama becomes President, the Erie-Western PA Port Authority wants some of the money. They have two projects totalling $30 million they say would fall under the plan. One includes dock and roof repairs to the area now used by Erie Shipbuilding and the other are improvements to the terminal facilities.

A body of an unknown man was found behind the Sam’s Club store on upper Peach on Saturday evening. Authorities have not released a name or if the death was suspicious in nature.

Shareholders of PNC Bank will vote this Tuesday on the acquisition of National City. Already approved by the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Justice Department, the shareholder vote is a formality.

Congratulations to the 32 cadets who graduated from the Municipal Police Training Academy at Mercyhurst North East. It was the school’s largest class in nine years. The program is 21 weeks long and graduates receive their Act 120 certification.

Julia Hinkler and Cris Clarke, of McKean and Linesville respectively, both were behind on their car payments and were about to have their vehicles repo’d. They had the bright idea to just avoid the repo man by swapping vehicles. Hinkler was mad that Clarke left her car with no gas and called the state police. Both are now facing charges. All we can do is shake our heads.

We’re not sure why but they’re shipping dead people to Erie.  Troy Coleman originally from Detroit was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds this past Saturday in Farrell, Pa, near Hermitage.  An autopsy of the victim, however, was performed here in Erie.

The Erie Peace Initiative is calling for the deployment of the 56th Stryker Brigade to be nullified and for Governor Rendell to bring the unit home. We’re all for bringing all the troops home and unless we’re mistaken, Rendell or the PA legislature doesn’t have the power to make such a decision.  Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to pass laws for “calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions” and Article II, Section 2 designates the U.S. President as “commander in chief … of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States.”  From the EPI website, it appears the group is interpreting the current occupation of Iraq as an effective end to the war since Sadaam and his regime are no longer in power.  Without conclusive action by Congress or the President, its highly unlikely any legislation or administrative order issued by a state would have any practical effect.

The Erie Zoning Board has postponed their hearing on the tires-to-energy plant originally scheduled for Tuesday until February 24, 2009. Erie Renewable Energy asked for the delay until they hear from the zoning office on a new site plan. We’re confused by all the various zoning boards, groups and offices. Who exactly is responsible for what?

YourErie.com redid parts of its homepage, and now features tiny headlines and huge graphics in their news area of the page. We liked the old way better. Also, a free tip from ErieBlogs to YourErie: your main logo graphic is 180k. Way too big, dudes. Size that stuff down from 400×400 to the right size. Download speeds = stunned.

The 2009 Millcreek Community Education Winter Class Schedule is now available. Classes begin the week of January 19th. Here it be.

Sports

NFL

Tennessee 31 Pittsburgh 14
Cincinatti 14 Cleveland 0
Buffalo 30 Denver 23

McDowell senior A.J. Fenton was named to the Associated Press Pennsylvania all-state high school football. Fenton will head to Wisconsin next fall. He was previously named Erie Times-News Player of the Year.

Justin Hodgman scored three times and added an assist to lead the Erie Otters to a 7-5 win over the Sudbury Wolves in an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday in front of 3,605 at the Tullio Arena. Ryan O’Reilly collected two goals for the Otters while Brandon Biggers supplied a goal and three assists and Paul Cianfini had a goal and an assist. Zack Torquato also enjoyed a multi-point game with three assist in leading the Otters to their second straight win and a 16-17-2-0 record.

After playing the Erie BayHawks, the Dakota Wizards decided to drive to Buffalo to try to catch a flight back to North Dakota in order to make it home for a game on Saturday. In the end, their trip to get home was Erie to Buffalo to Erie to Cleveland to Minneapolis and finally a five hour drive to Bismarck.

Despite unleashing 41 shots and scoring back-to-back goals just 71 seconds apart in the third period, the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team had to settle for a 2-2 tie against Atlantic Hockey rival Canisius Saturday afternoon in Buffalo, N.Y.

Joe Jones paced four players in double figures with 22 points to lead Edinboro to an 83-62 win over visiting Urbana on Saturday afternoon. The victory boosted the Fighting Scots, who are to their best start since the 1989-90 season, to 8-0, while Urbana fell to 1-14.

The Gannon men’s basketball team, ranked No. 4 in the latest National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC)/Division II Top 25, continues a nine-game homestand Monday, December 22 against Lake Erie at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Events

Local author Ken Springirth will present “Make Way for the Trolley,” a presentation on the history of public transportation in Erie, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Mercyhurst North East’s Alex Theater, 16 West Division Street, North East. Springirth has published six books on railroads and trolleys, and his seventh book, “Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad,” will be released in February of 2009. The presentation is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

The Allegheny College baseball program will host its 2009 Gator Baseball Winter Clinics at the Wise Center on Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8..They will be stretched across three dates and will focus on pitching, defense and hitting.There will also be two separate age groups: 6-12 year-olds and 13-18 year-olds. On the aforemention dates, the younger group will meet from 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
while the older players will meet from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. The camp features an expert teaching staff, which includes Allegheny head baseball coach Kelly Swiney, assistant coach Brian Reitnour and members of the Gator roster. Campers who attend all three sessions will receive a free T-shirt.

Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra will hold its next concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The concert, a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be held at St. Patrick Church, 130 East 4th St. It is free and open to the public. Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra is conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright. For more information, call 814-871-7755.

The Shiloh Baptist Church Choir, under the direction of Frederick Dixon, will perform a concert in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 4 p.m., in St. Mary’s Chapel at Mercyhurst North East, 16 West Division Street, North East. A reception will follow. The concert is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

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.