ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Thursday September 8, 2005

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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday September 8, 2005

Posted by Dennis on September 8, 2005

Welch’s has begun accepting Niagara grapes from growers. Niagara are the known as the white grapes, even though the color is more of a light green or yellow. The air along the North Coast smells great with the sweet smell of grapes. You can see people taking deep breathes, like in the Febreze commercials. And in case you were wondering, the 24th Annual Wine Country Harvest Festival in North East, Pennsylvania will be held September 23, 24 and 25, 2005.

The Tom Ridge Center has begin to function as the administrative hub of Presque Isle State Park. The visitor center and education classrooms open next year.
By the way, the Presque Isle State Park monthly attendance figure for August was 530,284.

Melvin L Brown was born in the Central Pennsylvania city of Mahaffey. He came to Erie PA and entered the US Army during the Korean War. Brown served with Company D, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion. On September 4, 1950 while his platoon was securing Hill 755 (the Walled City), the enemy, using heavy automatic weapons and small arms, counterattacked. Taking a position on a 50-foot-high wall he delivered heavy rifle fire on the enemy. His ammunition was soon expended and although wounded, he remained at his post and threw his few grenades into the attackers causing many casualties. When his supply of grenades was exhausted his comrades from nearby foxholes tossed others to him and he left his position, braving a hail of fire, to retrieve and throw them at the enemy. The attackers continued to assault his position and Private Brown weaponless, drew his entrenching tool from his pack and calmly waited until they one by one peered over the wall, delivering each a crushing blow upon the head. Knocking 10 or 12 enemy from the wall, his daring action so inspired his platoon that they repelled the attack and held their position. The next day he was killed in action.
Private Brown’s extraordinary heroism, gallantry, and intrepidity reflect the highest credit upon himself and was in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service. On February 16, 1951 PFC Melvin L Brown was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Pennsylvania announced the approval of more than $2.5 million in tax credits to community based organizations through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). Non-profit organizations can assign these tax credits to businesses and the corporate community in exchange for contributions for local community development projects. Community Shelter Services received $310,000 in tax credits, the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA received $300,000, The JFK Center received $295,000 and Bayfront NATO $250,054.

The Erie Advertising Club will kick-off it’s 2005-2006 season at the annual membership party tonight, Thursday September 8 from 5:30-7:30 pm at Wild Cards Sports Bar and Grill (no web site). This event is free and open to any prospective members who want to see what the Erie Ad Club is all about. RSVPs can be called in to 814-451-8677 or made online. RSVPs are NOT required, but encouraged.

The 2005 Waterford Community Fair continues today and runs through Saturday September 10. Admission is $3 per person with children 12 and under free.

Tonight will be Nash Library Night at Jr’s Last Laugh Comedy Club and Restaurant. The club, 1402 State, will donate a portion of ticket sales from that night’s gate to the Gannon University Nash Library, which will use the money toward the purchase of books and materials. If attending, please remember to mention that you want a portion of the ticket sale earmarked for Nash Library.

Molly Brannigan’s will host this Thursday nights block party tonight from 5th to North Park Row on State with street tents, outdoor cafes, celebrity bartenders and live music from 2U. The party runs from 6 pm to 11 pm. This is the last block party of the year.

The McDowell girl’s volleyball team will be participating in the 28 team Shaler Area tournament this weekend.

Corey Hamman (1-0) earned the win in relief for Toledo, hurling 2 2/3 innings of no-hit relief to give the Mud Hens a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series over Norfolk. The left-hander was making his Triple-A debut after being promoted from Double-A Erie earlier in the day.

Lake Erie Speedway is offering $2 off an adult general admission ticket for anyone that brings a non-perishable canned food item to the races on Friday. Also, drivers will be collecting donations at intermission of the races benefiting the hurricane relief effort and the Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition to the ticket offer, Lake Erie Speedway will also donate over 130 cases of fruit juice to the hurricane victims.

The Race of Champions at Lake Erie Speedway is rescheduled for Friday September 16th. Four NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers will participate including, Bobby Labonte, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle and new addition Matt Kenseth. Also racing will be a special 50 lap Dodge Truck feature, Jensen’s Target Collision Figure 8’s, Bandoleros, Pepsi Legends and Crazy Compacts.