ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Friday May 19, 2006

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Erie PA News and Events for Friday May 19, 2006

Posted by Dennis on May 19, 2006

Tumai, the male lowland gorilla headed for the Erie Zoo, had a heart attack and died on the airplane from Memphis. This is the second gorilla to die on route to Erie. Kuba, from the Topeka Zoo, had a heart attack while making the trip to Erie in November of 2005. The 41st annual Erie Zoo Parade takes place Saturday May 20th at 10 am. The parade begins at the intersection of 18th and State Streets. It will march north on State Street to Perry Square at South Park Row and State Street.

Jefferson Elementary Principal Diane Madara has been suspended for sending a sexually explicit email. The email which she explained was destined for her boyfriend, was instead send to the entire staff at the school.

Erie native Ronald Lofton has been awarded the Chicago Westside Branch of the NAACP Nola Bright Community Service Award. He has owned and operated McDonald’s restaurants in four West Side locations and at O’Hare Airport.

Chris Maples hit a two-run walk-off homer off the Tullio Arena in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Erie SeaWolves past the Reading Phillies. The two teams play again at Jerry Uht Park in downtown Erie at 6:30 pm.

Gannon University head men’s basketball coach John Reilly announced the transfer of Cory Knight (Erie Cathedral Prep) to the program on Thursday. Knight will have three years of eligibility remaining after playing one season at Pfeiffer University. Knight is the seventh student-athlete to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend Gannon. He joins Brandon Altman (Vienna, Va/ James Madison/Center/6-9/215), Preston Harris (Erie, Pa/ Cathedral Prep/Guard/6-3), Mark Demski (Erie, Pa/ Cathedral Prep/Forward/6-5/190), Marcus Lemon (Alexandria, Va/TC Williams/Forward/6-5/215), Jason Thompson (Bedford, Ohio/ Bedford/Wing/6-3/180), and Wil Johnson (Fairfax, Va/ Bishop O’Connell/Guard/6-0/175) as part of Gannon’s 2006 recruiting class.

Tom Shifflet, a three-time All-American at Edinboro University, was named Hofstra’s head wrestling coach. He had coached UNC Greensboro for the past four years.

Josh Sharpless, who pitched at Allegheny College, was promoted to Class AAA Indianapolis. Sharpless has allowed just two runs in 21 innings while notching eight saves as Altoona’s closer.

Levar Goff has signed a letter of intent to play football at Gannon University and might also play basketball for the Knights. Goff was All-Greater Rochester in both sports.

Matt Stephany of Erie Cathedral Prep School has signed a letter of intent to attend Christian Brothers University to play baseball.

Dan Sprys will attend Allegheny College to play football. He is a senior at Novi (MI) High School.

The Erie Ad Club is pleased to welcome Stephen Walker; president of NYC based Headmint Inc, for a special two-hour interactive copywriting event today from 9-11 am (sign in at 8:30) at Knowledge Park, Penn State Erie in the Knowledge Center’s Great Room, 5240 Knowledge Parkway. Free to members, $30 for non-members. Stephen adapts Hollywood’s discipline of “Loglining”-short, pithy one-liner movie ideas-and applies the concept to commercial communication ideas. Learn what is strategically essential in an idea and how to clearly communicate your message.

The Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival will be held in Edinboro today through May 21.

The Mercyhurst Prep School Crew Team will host its annual Invitational Regatta on May 20, 2006. Over 25 High School Teams will converge on Presque Isle State Park Vista parking lots 1, 2, and 3. Hundreds of rowers will compete on the adjacent waters of Presque Isle Bay for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals during this day long event. For more information contact David Geiger at dgeiger2000(at)yahoo.com.

Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 10K fundraiser walk, takes place on Saturday, May 20, at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park.

The Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force 4th annual Bike Around the Bay will be held in Erie, PA on May 20, 2006. Enjoy Erie’s bay and lakeshore as you bike 10, 30 or 50 miles around scenic Presque Isle State Park and bayside vistas. Check out the new Tom Ridge Environmental Center on your route. Funds raised benefit the Earth Force program serving 2,500 youth in western Pennsylvania. Bring the entire family. Grand prize: Cannondale bike and tag-a-long.

The first cruise-in of 2006 will be held on May 22 at the Park and Ride lot on the Erie Bayfront.

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center will open May 26th. This $31 million, state-of-the-art center will share the treasures of Presque Isle State Park with nature enthusiasts, educators, researchers, tourists and other visitors.