Well, boys and girls, 2009 is close to becoming little more than a memory. Whether the memory is good or bad depends on your personal viewpoint. One thing which we can all hope for is that the coming year will be better than the one that will slip away at 12 midnight tonight.
Mark DiVecchio is happy. He already has a new job, as Executive Director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Human services is very close to his heart, and in his new position, he will work closely with the Office of Children and Youth providing advocacy for children who pass through the Erie County Court System. CASA is not a county program, but rather an organization made up of mostly volunteers. We wish him well.
Another important member of the DiVecchio administration, Alyson Amendola, is also VERY happy. Not only will she become the Executive Director of the Erie County Historical Society, she has also become engaged to a lucky guy who goes by the name of Matthew Cummings! We think that both Matthew and ECHS have hit the jackpot.
Mount Pleasant Ski Resort out Edinboro way has opened for the season. If we can believe the forecast for this weekend, the skiing should be terrific.
If you plan on celebrating the New Year with some adult beverages, please be sure there is a designated driver to see that you and other party-goers travel safely throughout the evening, and that inebriated drivers do not involve anyone else in an accident. Having a sober driver will also ensure that one of the many local and state police officers will not be passing out a huge fine at your expense! We guarantee that the officers will be out in force.
Sports
Seton Hill forced 27 Gannon turnovers en route to a 64-44 victory Tuesday night in the 36th annual Porreco Cup semifinals at the Hammermill Center. Ferris State won the other semifinal game with a 77-67 win over Taylor. Seton Hill met Ferris State in the finals last night.
The No. 6 Gannon women’s basketball team limited visiting St. Thomas Aquinas to 25.4 percent (15-59) shooting and posted a 52-31 advantage on the glass en route to a 60-39 victory Wednesday afternoon at the Hammermill Center.
The Mercyhurst College women’s basketball team stretched its winning streak to four with a 64-48 victory at Madonna College. The winning streak is the longest since the early part of the 1999-2000 season, which was also the last winning season for the Lakers.
Oh yes, the Bayhawks finally won a home game, outscoring the Bakersfield Jam 91-78 Tuesday night.
Events
We’re sure there will be plenty of parties around town tonight. The Irving Berlin musical, ‘White Christmas’, begins its final weekend run at the Erie Playhouse. This is a don’t-miss performance, showcasing Erie’s finest actors, singers, dancers, and musicians. The show goes on at 7:30 pm tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, with a 2:00 pm matinee performance on Sunday, January 3, 2010.
It will also be a blast at the Bayfront Convention Center tonight with ‘Boogie on the Bay’ festivities kicking off at 9:00 pm. Proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Be sure to look up Capt. Dan Geary, Erie’s oldest teenager and Master of the Oldies from WYNE, and give him a big New Year’s kiss.
