Last night marked the end of the “Block Parties” in downtown Erie for 2010. I went to one in 2009 and I haven’t attended one since. I have nothing against alcohol consumption (she stops typing briefly to take a swig of her Tröegs Hop Back Amber Ale), but I’m not a quantity drinker and have a low tolerance for drunks, so it really wasn’t my thing.
I’m curious… do you attend the Block Parties? What are your impressions/opinions?
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Okay people, these contests are almost over and, very soon, you won’t have to read my daily blurbs about supporting your community and voting for local projects in grant contests… well, until the next one, at least:
ErieAlert.com and ErieAlerts Twitter at Markham Mark of Distinction
Voting for ErieAlert.com and ErieAlerts Twitter projects continues until September 7th, so you’re going to have to put up with this one for just a few more days. Currently, this project has 25% of the votes, which puts it in second place. The first place nominee has 26% and the third place nominee has 19%. It’s a close race and every vote is needed.
Flagship Niagara League at Kohl’s Cares (Facebook)
I can’t tell what place the Niagara is in, but it tells me that it has 853 votes. That seems pretty low to me, especially considering the population of Erie County. Voting in this contest ends September 3rd.
Please keep voting. You can vote every day. And if you happen to have more than one e-mail address, please put them all to good use.
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FYI, the Conneaut Lake Park Blue Streak Restoration at Pepsi Refresh Everything contest is over and the Conneaut Lake Blue Streak Restoration project WON a $50,000 grant!
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According to sources in Cleveland, colder air temperatures are heading our way which, when mixed with the still warm waters of Lake Erie, means that we should be on the lookout for waterspouts over Lake Erie this weekend.
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This weekend, St. Nick’s Grove will be home to all things German as the 14th Annual German Heritage Festival kicks off on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. German taste treats, music, shopping, and stuff for the kids. Admission is $5.00 for adults. Kids under 12 are free. If you take a nonperishable food item to donate, you get $1.00 off the price of admission. The festival runs Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Parking is free. For more information and the schedule of entertainment, check out the Erie German Heritage Festival website.
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Saturday, September 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., there will be an autograph party for J. Jeff Stivenson to celebrate the release of his new book, Erie: A Short History of Getting Around, at the Erie Book Store. Jeff, an Erie native, will sign copies of the book–a fascinating look at urban planning and development, along with water, rail, highways, and air transportation over three centuries. For more information, call 480-5671.
This intriguing historical book is being released by Erie native, J. Jeff Stivenson who now resides in Lansing, MI. While studying for a Masters degree in Urban Planning at Michigan State University, Stivenson began writing his Master’s Thesis on the history of Erie transportation. What emerged is a comprehensive history of the development of the Erie transportation system and the politics that influenced it from 1795 when Andrew Ellicott was commissioned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to layout the town of Presqu’Isle (current day Erie).
This book appeals to a mass audience as it examines not only historical transportation issues and the effect they have had on city planning issues, but also the sometimes complicating and colorful influence of politics in Erie related to those issues. It educates and entertains, giving the reader insight into the processes and problems encountered by Erie citizens in an effort to provide a sound transportation system. Michigan State University professor, Dr. Eric J. Strauss, Ph.D., says ”Jeff Stivenson has undertaken a comprehensive look at the influence (or lack of influence) of urban plans on water, rail and highway improvements in the community. It adds tremendously to our understanding of how things move (or don’t move) from the potential to the possible. I recommend it to anyone wishing a clear understanding of how things really get done when it comes to mobility and urban planning.”
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District Attorney Jack Daneri has just announced the Crimestoppers reward has been increased to two-thousand dollars for any information that leads to the arrest of a suspect or suspects involved in the fatal hit and run on Interstate 90 that resulted in the death of Xiaoxia Zhang, a 30 year old Chicago woman who was traveling with her husband, Fengning Liu, and their two children.
“The additional reward money has been pledged by Robert Hoffman of Hoffman Optical, 2053 W. 8th St. in Erie, Pennsylvania. “We are starting to see a countywide effort at apprehending the truck drivers involved in this tragic incident, says Daneri. Law enforcement, concerned citizens, and businesses such as Hoffman Optical are doing everything possible to quickly locate the individuals. Hopefully, someone will come forward with the critical information.”
Pennsylvania State Police are actively investigating this fatality that actually involves two separate vehicles. A large truck or tractor trailer rear ended a car near the 40 mile marker of Interstate 90 at 1:00am, Friday August 20, 2010. Xiaoxia Zhang was ejected from the vehicle and then struck by another truck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither of the trucks stopped after their involvement in the accident.
Anonymous tips can be placed at ErieAlert.com by clicking on the Crimestoppers button. The tipster will receive a computer generated code that will be used to claim the reward if the suspects are arrested. Tipsters can also make anonymous tips by calling 1-800-4-PA-TIPS.
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Labor Day Weekend is traditionally one of the three worst weekends of the year (July 4th is first and Memorial Day is second), and AAA is predicting a 10% increase in holiday travel. To get ready the Community Blood Bank with TGIFridays: the first 75 donors receive a card for a free appetizer and one lucky donor Friday will win a round of golf for two plus a cart donated by Whispering Woods Golf Club. TGIFriday’s will also be providing food from 11-3pm.
The late Labor Day holiday also pushes back the start up of High School and College blood drives. These drives normally end any leftover summer shortages quickly.
“Labor Day is always tough for us,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “People enjoy the last bit of summer and usually delay giving blood.”
All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9a.m. 6p.m. Monday through Friday and until 7:30pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Photo ID required.
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Gannon’s annual Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit is designed to bless the University community at the beginning of a new Academic Year.
This year’s Mass also will include a special recognition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania and the blessing of an icon written to honor the Sisters as they celebrate 150 years of service to the Erie Diocese.
Erie Bishop Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman will be the celebrant for the Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit, to be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 on Friendship Green, located outside the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West 7th St. In the event of rain, the mass will be held at the University’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 520 Peach St.
In May, the Sisters of St. Joseph began a yearlong celebration of their 150th anniversary. “Women of Spirit, Courage and Vision” is the theme of the celebration.
Several members of the Congregation will attend the Mass and will participate in various liturgical roles.
The icon, depicting Saint Joseph, was written by Daria Hulak-Kulchytsky of Cleveland. It will be placed in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel.
The Saint Joseph icon will be the second by Hulak-Kulchytsky to reside at Gannon. In 2006, the chapel added a Mary, Seat of Wisdom icon that she wrote.
