ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday July 18, 2006

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Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday July 18, 2006

Posted by Dennis on July 18, 2006

Erie based Spectrum Control (Nasdaq: SPEC), a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic control products and systems, announced that it has acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Advanced Thermal Products. ATP, based in St Marys, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures custom temperature sensors. The total purchase price of the acquisition was $9.3 million. This is the fifth acquisition in the last two and a half years for Spectrum Control.

Deborah Steff, the fired former manager of Erie’s traffic court, entered a plea of guilty to stealing funds from traffic court fines. Over a three year period she took between $100,000 and $270,000 intraffic court fines which were paid in cash. The record keeping was so poor they realy don’t know how much was taken.

There are currently 1326 listed residential properties for sale in Erie County which is about a 3 month supply.

The Pennsylvania Heart Gallery, which features portraits and biographies of 50 children from 18 counties, will soon be on display in Erie. The Pennsylvania Heart Gallery is intended to raise awareness of the many children who are without permanent homes and to encourage Pennsylvanians to adopt them. Photographers from across the state donated their services to create portraits that spotlight each child in a unique and personal way. Each photo is accompanied by a detailed profile of the featured child, including information about his or her interests, personality and dreams for the future.

A Mercyhurst College brochure has received national attention and has created quite a stir among colleges. Since February, the brochure has been downloaded more than 3,000 times, is being used as a model by dozens of colleges across the nation and most recently received a spotlight on CNN’s Situation Room. The topic? “FaceBook” – a social networking service for high school, college, university, corporate, nonprofit, military and geographic communities. “We noticed very detailed information about our students on the site: their cell phone numbers, their daily schedules, where they lived,” Zirkle said. “We began approaching a few of the more severe instances, the ones that we really feared for their wellbeing.” According to Zirkle, the response from the students was shocking. “They had no idea that we or anyone else other than their college friends could access the site,” she said. “One student referred to the site as her ‘personal journal.’” Mercyhurst felt strongly that it needed to educate its students. College personnel set out to find materials on cybersafety slanted toward FaceBook but were unsuccessful. “We searched the Internet for materials for days before deciding to create our own guide,” Zirkle said. “There is nothing out there.” The result was a double-sided 8.5 x 14” brochure, designed to resemble the FaceBook interface. The brochure warns students of the potential dangers of such sites and encourages them to make responsible choices when using social networking sites. “Students have to make educated decisions about what they post,” Zirkle said. “They should realize that their potential employer, predators and college administrators are also on FaceBook. We feel it is our job to make them aware that their postings may have consequences.” Every Mercyhurst College student, faculty, staff member and administrator received the brochure with a cover letter from the residence life staff in February. All Mercyhurst freshmen will receive similar packet later this summer. The information will also be covered at the college’s first-year initiative when the students arrive on campus in the fall.

The Erie SeaWolves used a late-inning comeback to down the Bowie Baysox in game two on Monday night’s doubleheader to take a 5-4 victory. Erie lost the first game 4-2. The 4 game series at Jerry Uht Park continues today at 7:05 pm. It’s a “Day of Hope” so bring any non-perishable food items to the ticket window and receive $2 off a Reserved Seat ticket.

The Gem City Jazz Ensemble perform a free concert tonight, Tuesday July 18th at 7 pm at the Erie Soldiers and Sailors Home Gazebo Stage.

Gannon’s Schuster Theatre 3rd annual Shakespeare Summer Nights will be held July 21-30, 2006 with free performances held in AJ’s Way south of the Gannon Arch on West 7th Street in Erie. The Mainstage Company performs “The Merry Wives of Windsor” July 21-22, 28 at 7 pm and “Romeo and Juliet” July 23, 29-30 at 7 pm. The Young Company performs “The Taming of the Shrew” July 22, 29 at noon and 1 pm. For more details call Fr Shawn Clerkin at 814-871-7493.

The Duke Sherman Blues Band performs on Wednesday, July 19 at 6:30 pm at Presque Isle State Park Beach 1 for this weeks Sprint Sunset Music Series.

Ishcabaha (celtic music) plays a free concert on Thursday July 20th at 7 pm at the Patricia McCain Amphitheater at the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF). Join LEAF in their 5th season of this Arts at the Arboretum free music series.

Michael Dittman will be at the Erie Book Store,137 E 13th Stree in Erie, on Friday July 21st at 6:30 pm signing copies of his latest novel Small Brutal Incidents, a noir thriller set in 1950’s Pittsburgh.

Waterford Heritage Days takes place July 21, 22 and 23 In Waterford PA.

The 3rd annual Key West Fest will be held July 21-22 at Liberty Park. The great Jimmy Buffet tribute band Key West Express and Peter Mayer Group will perform.

Allegheny College will hold a soccer camp, July 23-27 in Meadville Pa for kids ages 10-18. Overnight $330, commuter $250. Team and sibling discounts are available. Call 814-332-4782 or 814-332-5208 or download an application.

Gannon University will co-host a summer camp for youth who enjoy nature and outdoor activities.The Junior Naturalist Outdoor Adventure Camp (JNOAC) also will be hosted by Presque Isle State Park and Family First Sports Park. The adventure camp is designed for children ages 8-12 and will run Monday-Friday, July 24-28. The camp will be held at Presque Isle State Park and will allow participants to explore the outdoors, learn team building skills, and challenge themselves by engaging in fun adventures and activities. The camp is presented by the Gannon University Continuing Education and Computer Training Center. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and is encouraged by Friday, July 14. A $30 per child grant is available; contact doug@americanadventuresports.com. The grants are provided by the Pioneer Project. For more information, call 814-871-5885.

The summer sky will be the topic of the next Summer Open House Night in Astronomy at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Roger Knacke, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the college’s School of Science, will present “Summer Stars and the Milky Way” at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. This Summer Open House Night in Astronomy is free and open to the public. It is a non-technical presentation for ages 6 and older. For more information, call the School of Science at 814-898-6105.

Discover Presque Isle will be held July 28-30, 2006. Presque Isle State Park flourishes with activity during this annual event. The weekend encompasses one of the area’s largest craft shows, volleyball tournament, duathlon, mile swim, sand soccer, food vendors, extensive children’s area, sand sculptures, bonfires on the beach, live music and so much more.

Here’s some info on a great new Erie area event. The Guelcher Film Series at the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, aka Movies in the Park - The Biggest Stars Under The Stars. Movies will begin at 9 pm. Here is a tentative list of films.
July 28, 2006 The Black Stallion (1979)
August 4, 2006 Stormy Weather (1943)
August 11, 2006 Waking Ned Devine (1998)
August 18, 2006 CelebrateErie Week, That Thing You Do (1996)
August 25, 2006 Triplets of Belleville (2003)
September 1, 2006 Half Way to Saint Patrick’s Day,
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).

Scooters is hosting the 1st annual Motorcycles 4 Meals poker run to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA on August 12, 2006. Registration starts at 9 am at the Food Bank, 1703 Ash Street with the first bike leaving at Noon. There will be FREE food, FREE music, Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle at Scooters (last stop). First place winner gets $200, 2nd place $100 and 3rd place $50. For more information visit the link above or call Michele King at 459-3663.