I think we can best sum up the weekend in a few pictures.

Before we get to that, let’s take a quick moment to remember that today is the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 2,402 soldiers lost their lives that day.

Snowy weather Saturday caused accidents around the region as people managed to forget what it’s like to drive on slippery and slushy roads. Get used to it.

A big fire Sunday morning on Presque Isle Boulevard has left dozens of people homeless. Luckily, no one was injured though the complex was pretty much destroyed. The American Red Cross is on the case, working with the families. Call the Red Cross at 833-0942 if you were affected or want to donate some money to support the Chapter’s support efforts or if you have other goods for the families.

Flagship Niagara Captain Wesley Heerssen, recently laid off due to continuing state budget issues, has been hired by the Flagship Niagara League, a non-profit. Heerssen, and two other members of the ship’s crew, will stay on thanks to the group. They’ve shifted some budget monies around to pay the salaries. Kudos to you.

Speaking of budget woes, the Blasco Library will be open on Sundays but hours at all the local branches are being cut. Ed Plattella of the Times-News has the details. Call us naive, but can volunteers be counted on to pick up the lack of paid staff? How much of the day to day activities of the branches are being done by volunteers? I’d take a Saturday afternoon here and there if it meant keeping branches available and open. My kids use the library in Erie and Meadville all the time.

A quick, special thank you to Naturally Yours, who is sponsoring this site for the next two weeks. If you are looking for a great holiday gift, especially for the Erie-ite who’s moved away and looking for a taste of home, check out their gift baskets filled with local treats – you can even get Smith’s hot dogs included. How clutch is that?

Sports

Well, Steeler fans, the season’s over. Sorry, it hurts, but it’s true. The defense can’t make stops when it counts and the offense hasn’t been scoring enough points to make up for those lapses. If you want to make the playoffs, let alone defend a championship, then you have to win the games you’re supposed to, including beating Kansas City and Oakland. At 6-6, the only thing the team can do at this point is play spoiler and beat teams like Baltimore at home in a few weeks. Pittsburgh and Cleveland play Thursday night.

NFL
San Diego 30 Cleveland 23
New York Jets 19 Buffalo 13 (Thursday)

The Mercyhurst men’s hockey team posted its sixth consecutive victory, winning 3-1 over visiting UConn Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers built a 3-0 lead midway through the game, while the Huskies notched a late goal to avoid the shutout. Three different Lakers scored, and Kevin Noble recorded his first career goal.

Edinboro captured the 67th Annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday at McComb Fieldhouse on the Edinboro campus. It marks the fifth straight PSAC title for head coach Tim Flynn’s squad, tying the PSAC record set by Lock Haven from 1940-42 and 1947-48. Edinboro has now won eight of the last nine and 11 of the last 13 championships.

Craig Devinney nailed a go-ahead jumper with 40 seconds left in overtime and the Allegheny men’s basketball team weathered a final effort by Ohio Wesleyan to pull out a 79-76 win in North Coast Athletic Conference action at the David V. Wise Center on Saturday.

The Urbana men’s basketball team hit 14-of-20 long-range bombs against the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s (PSAC) best three-point field goal percentage defense and completed a season sweep of Gannon Saturday afternoon with an 85-59 victory at the Grimes Center.

Events