The “Season of Giving” continues at the Community Blood Bank. Week 2 has Tops Friendly Markets generously donating a $5 gift card to the first 50 donors on Tuesday and donors all week are entered to win a $100 gift card. There is a shortage of just one blood type; O Negative, the Universal Donor, a blood type that anyone regardless of their own blood type, can receive. It’s used in emergencies when there is no time to determine the blood type of the patient. The LifeStar helicopter flies every mission with O Neg on board, but only 8% of the population is O Negative. If you’re in that 8%, get to the Blood Bank and do good!
In an annual crime report conducted by CG Press using 2008 FBI crime statistics, Erie ranked as the second safest city in Pennsylvania. The Erie community has retained this position for the past two years. Woot woot.
GE Drivetain Technologies, a unit of GE Transportation, has received the industry’s first electrical safety certification of a large wind turbine gearbox in North America from global inspection leader Intertek. This certification will ensure that the equipment will be accepted by safety inspectors throughout North America. Industry advancements of this kind will hopefully lead to the increased usage of alternative energy sources in the U.S.
An Edinboro man, Chad Zachary Hower, who kidnapped his 13-year-old son and fled to Bulgaria will not be extradited by the Bulgarian government. The boy’s mother claims her parental rights were violated when Hower left the country with her son. Hower claims he has a valid court order giving him custody of the boy and permission to travel abroad. The Federal prosecutors don’t know what to do. If I was the kid, I’d want to stay in Bulgaria with my wicked cool outlaw father. But that’s just me.
Rain, wind, and lack of snow have made for a tough start to deer hunting season. No tears tonight; Bambi lives another day.
Mercyhurst College will celebrate “Christmas on Campus” on Saturday, December 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carolyn Hermann Student Union. Over 100 children from nine Erie area social service agencies will be invited to participate in many activities such as singing, dancing, story-time, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event is hosted by student volunteers and made possible by donations from faculty, staff, and administrators.
Sports
Mercyhurst College men’s hockey junior goaltender Ryan Zapolski has been named Atlantic Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week. Zapolski, a native of Erie, Pa., made 33 saves in an 8-2 decision on Friday and 36 saves to earn his fifth-career shutout in a 2-0 victory on Saturday. Mercyhurst returns to action with a two-game series against Connecticut on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Junior guard Kelly Nowacinski of the Behrend Women’s basketball team has been named the ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR Athlete of the Week for the week of November 30, 2009. In the three games so far this season, Nowacinski has averaged 12 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, and has made nine assists. The blue and white are on the road again tonight against Medaille and return to the Junker Center on Saturday, December 5 to face Mt. Aloysius.
Edinboro University freshman Chris Klimchock was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week for his performance in three contests last week. A 5’9” point guard, Klimchock has started the first four games, averaging 6.5 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. He leads the team with 16 assists and just seven turnovers. Edinboro returns to action on Saturday, December 5 at Lake Erie.
The final Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division III Coaches’ Poll has the Allegheny women’s golf team ranked ninth to end the fall season. Allegheny won five out of the six Invitationals they competed in and placing seventh at the O’Brien National Invitational that featured the top 10 squads from last year’s NCAA Championships.
The Alleghany Gators’ cross country team placed third at Nationals with 195 points. Jeramie Parker and Chris Marker placed 8th and 11th, respectively, to earn All-America honors at Highland Park Golf Course. The team accomplishment matches Allegheny’s previous best finish in 2006 when the Blue and Gold placed third at the National Championship meet.
