ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Friday November 10, 2006

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Erie PA News and Events for Friday November 10, 2006

Posted by Dennis on November 10, 2006

Jacobs Entertainment disclosed a 13 percent stake (3.6 million shares) in MTR Gaming Group. Jacobs Entertainment is the owner and operator of casinos and race tracks. MTR is building Presque Isle Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack with pari-mutuel wagering and slot machine gaming in Erie, Pennsylvania which will open in February 2007. Image is courtesy MTR Gaming and dated November 7.

I stumbled on the blog of Allison Fischer of Erie, a Collegiate Academy grad, who is attending University of the Arts in Philly, double majoring in Fine Arts and Art Therapy. She plans to go on to NYU next year. Her works are primarily in oils but often use mix media. The young lady has talent. You might want to pick up something by her while she’s a poor college student so when you go on the Antiques Road Show in 20 years you can say you only paid X for one of her works.

Seven years ago today, on November 10 1999 the City of Erie v Pap’s A M (“Kandyland”) reached the US Supreme Court. The question was - does Erie, Pennsylvania’s public indecency ordinance, as applied to prohibit nude dancing, violate the First Amendment’s guarantee of free expression? The conclusion in an opinion delivered by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was no.

As Mercyhurst College grows its newest campus in the west county, it seems only fitting that among the curriculum offerings at Mercyhurst West is a new program in facilities and property management. West’s associate degree program in facilities and property management, along with a bachelor’s degree program at the Erie campus, are the only such programs in the area. Four students are already enrolled in the program at West, and an Introduction to Facility Management course will be offered during the winter term, which starts Nov 27. A goal in the near future is to have West’s program approved by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), so that upon successful completion the program, students will be able to take the test to become a Facility Management Professional (FMP). This can be used as a springboard for obtaining the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation, which proves expertise in the field, and requires work experience. The most unique part of West’s program is that students will be able to experience facility and properties management first-hand, as the physical plant of West comes to fruition, said Larry Kownacki, instructor of the program at West. West’s future campus, to be located on 405 acres of land in Girard, will be centered around sustainability, incorporating Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “green” initiatives into its design, construction and operation. This rapidly growing approach to building promotes sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Big Green Screen Theatre at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie PA

The Big Green Screen Theatre has just secured its next major film, “Everest.” As one of the most successful large format movies ever made, “Everest” features the first large-format images brought back from Mount Everest. The 44-minute, 70mm documentary is narrated by Liam Neeson and follows an Everest expedition with three climbers that train and travel from Katmandu through the Himalayas, finally reaching the summit of Everest. It tells the dramatic true story of the “Everest” expedition’s journey to the summit, just days after the infamous 1996 tragedy in which eight climbers lost their lives in a deadly storm. “Everest” will open on Friday, November 24 during Thanksgiving Weekend at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center’s Big Green Screen Theatre. Ticket prices are $7.50 for adults 13-64, $6 for seniors 65+ and $5.50 for children 3-12. Discount packages are also available including the Family Fun Four Pack, Twilight for Two and the Double Feature Deal.

For the second year in a row, Mercyhurst College graduate students in applied intelligence, forensic and biological anthropology, organizational leadership, special education and administration of justice will assemble to celebrate the term’s end and pack gift boxes for soldiers overseas called Operation Reindeer. Last year, nearly 100 grad students brought baked goods, movies, video games and reading materials to the “packing party.” The gift boxes were sent to soldiers in Iraq, where US Army Lt Katie Breckenridge O’Leary, daughter of Mercyhurst’s own Jim and Missy Breckenridge, was stationed. This year, the boxes will be headed to Bagram, Afghanistan, chosen because of another Mercyhurst connection. For nearly two years, organizational leadership grad student Teresa Gardner of Franklin, Pa, has been sending packages overseas to her aunt, Capt. Lucia Lombardi, who is on her third tour of duty with the US Army, currently assigned to Bravo Company, Division Support Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Bagram, Afghanistan. Lombardi of Cranberry, Pa, has another Erie connection. She is a graduate of Gannon University, where she majored in criminal justice and was in the ROTC. An intelligence officer, Lombardi and her company are tasked with providing timely and accurate intelligence to the Division Command Staff for all of Afghanistan. This critical information allows the leadership to make decisions that support and safeguard the troops on the ground. For more information about Operation Reindeer, contact Kristin Austin at 824-2985.

The Detroit Tigers announced that Toledo Pitching Coach Jeff Jones has been promoted to Detroit and will serve as the Bullpen Coach for the Tigers during the 2007 season. Jones spent the 2003 season as Pitching Coach for Double-A Erie.

Along with Isaac Baker Men’s Store, the Erie SeaWolves are teaming up to offer a Father/Son Holiday Combo Pack. The pack, which is valued at more than $75, includes 4 tickets to any 2007 SeaWolves Home Game, a $25 gift certificate to Isaac Baker, and two SeaWolves caps. The combo packs are available at the SeaWolves Store online here, at the SeaWolves offices by calling 814-456-1300, by visiting the SeaWolves holiday store at the Main Office downtown, or at Isaac Baker at 814-454-7144.

Gannon University will host a workshop on play therapy to be presented by Richard E Watts, PhD, a nationally known author, researcher, and clinician. “Counseling with Toys” will run from 9 am to 4 pm today at the Avalon Hotel, 16 West Tenth Street. It will be hosted by the Gannon University Community Counseling Program and is co-sponsored by the Gamma Upsilon Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the Gannon Social Work program and School of Education, the Pennsylvania Association for Play Therapy, the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology, and the Lake Erie Adlerian Institute. Participants can qualify for six continuing education credits (CEUs) and ACT 48 hours. The cost is $50 (pre-registration by Nov 2), or $20 for students. A discount is available for members of Chi Sigma Iota. For more information or to obtain registration material, contact Kenneth McCurdy, PhD, assistant professor, community counseling, at 814-871-7791.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra perform at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena today, Friday, Nov 10. Some tickets still remain.

William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” a rollicking tale of mistaken identity and witty dialogue, will be the fall Studio Theatre performance at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Performances will begin at 8 pm on Friday Nov 10, Saturday Nov 11, and Wednesday Nov 15 through Saturday Nov 18. A 2 pm matinee performance will be held on Sunday, Nov 12. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students; reservations can be made by calling 814-898-6304.

The rock band Lareau will play at Docksiders located at 1015 State Street in Erie tonight. Admission is $5. The band has just completed filming its first music video with Producer’s/Director’s James Pizzaro and Aaron Doonan . The song is the title cut from their debut Rust Records release entitled ‘Changes’. Lareau is working on their second album with producers Darrin Payne and Anthony Brown at All Sound Recording Studios in Warren PA.

The Tony award-winning musical “Titanic” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse tonight, November 11-12 and 15-19. Call (814) 454-2852 ext 0 for ticket information.

This weekend, Nov 11-12, Pittsburgh will host a Podcamp. It’s a Free UN-CONFERENCE for people who create, enjoy or are interested in learning more about the following: blogs, vlogs, audio podcasts, web video, content networks and new media monetization.

The Erie area FIRST LEGO League Robotics competition sponsored by Lord Corporation and the Millcreek School District will be held on November 11 at 9 am at Walnut Creek Middle School, 5901 Sterrettania Rd. The event is open to the public. Students age 9 - 14 years old from Erie and the surrounding tri-state area build, program and then compete in a task driven competition. Using LEGO bricks and other elements such as sensors, motors, and gears, teams gain hands-on experience in engineering and computer programming principles as they construct and program their unique robot inventions. For more information send email to allen_platz@lord.com

The Annual Veterans Day Parade steps off at Vets Stadium on November 11 at 9:30 am and travels south to the Erie VA Medical Center. At 11 am the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Old French Road. The community is encouraged to attend to honor our nation’s heroes.

The Erie Philharmonic presents Made In America at the Warner Theatre on Saturday, Nov 11 at 8 pm. John Morris Russell, Music Director Candidate, will be the Conductor.

The Mercyhurst College Institute of Geography Education will host its third annual Geography Challenge for eighth grade students enrolled in Erie County schools on Saturday, Nov 11. Preliminaries will be held on campus in various classrooms beginning at 10 am, with the 10 finalists set to compete at 1 pm in Taylor Little Theatre, an event that is free and open to the public. The winner and runner-up will be flown to Space Camp at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala, where they will participate in some of the same training as the shuttle astronauts.

The All American Hot Dog and Chili Party will be held November 12 from 1-5 pm at the Huzar Club, 1122 East 10 St. This is open to the public. Hot dogs and a variety of chili’s to try. Games, Chinese auction, basket raffles, 50/50’S and fun. Proceeds benefit 12-year old Kristina King, Student Delegate of Harbor Creek. She will be going to Washington, DC April 2007 for the People to People World Leadership Forum.

Katie Beckwith was severely burnt when a road side bomb exploded while serving in Iraq. The friends of Katie Beckwith are having a fundraiser for the family to help them be with Katie during her recovery. The event will be held November 12 from 1-7 pm at the Holy Rosary Gym, 28th and East Ave. Donation is $5. Food is included in the price of admission. There will also be a silent auction, bake sale, and music. Come out and let’s all help out a home town veteran and her family.

The Allegheny College Jazz Band and Trombone Choir will present a concert on Sunday, Nov 12 at 3:15 pm in the lobby of Henderson Campus Center. Pre-concert music by Jim Froman and Friends will begin at 2:30. The event is free and open to the public.

Box of Light Theatre brings its multi-dimensional stage performance of “Pavlov’s Clown” to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Tuesday, Nov 14. The one-hour lunchtime show will begin at 12:30 pm in the Reed Union Building’s Bruno’s Cafe. A presentation of the college’s Rhythms of Life cultural series, “Pavlov’s Clown” is free and open to the public. A full menu of hot and cold lunch items will be available for purchase at the cafe.

Join the Pittsburgh Regional Knowledge Management Consortium, the Pittsburgh Technology Council and the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA), as they partner to present “IS Peer Network: Visual Display of Information and Explanations”, a live Webinar on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 from 5:30-8 pm. IT professionals interested in participating in this FREE educational opportunity should register by calling (814) 898-6500. The Webinar will be broadcast from the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (5340 Fryling Road, Suite 201, Erie, PA). Seats will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. For additional questions, please contact Melissa Newell, education program coordinator, at melissa.newell@ebizitpa.org. Amanda Parker, from Bechtel Bettis, will provide a captivating overview of how to create superior visual displays of data and information. For more than 50 years, the Bettis Laboratory has been developing advanced naval nuclear propulsion technology and providing technical support to ensure the safe and reliable operation of our nation’s submarine and aircraft carrier fleets. Based on landmark texts by Edward Tufte, professor emeritus at Yale University and expert in statistical evidence, information design and interface design, Parker will explain what features make it possible for viewers to compare, comprehend and consider causality.

The 20-piece Gem City Jazz Ensemble will present a concert on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30 pm in the Blasco Library HO Hirt Auditorium. Under the direction of Tim McKinney, the jazz ensemble will perform many great jazz standards and big band favorites such as New York, New York, ‘Lil Darlin’, and Killer Joe. More modern charts will include a remake of the classic I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad by Tom Kubis, a jazz rendition of St Louis Blues, and Santana’s Smooth. The concert is Free and open to the public; free-will offerings will be accepted.

The opening reception of “Victorian Holidays: A Holiday Heritage Festival” will be held November 16 at the Erie County Historical Society Watson-Curtze Mansion, 356 W 6 St, from 6-9 pm. Cost is $20, from reservations call (814) 454-1813. Victorian Holidays is a multi-faceted exhibit which has been annual tradition for the Erie County Historical Society for more than 25 years. The 2006 exhibit, titled a Holiday Heritage Festival, features traditional seasonal decorations from several ethnic-oriented groups. Exhibit runs through December 31.

Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra, Conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright, will perform on Friday, November 17. The performance will feature the Edinboro University Singers. It is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm at the Erie Central High auditorium, 3325 Cherry Street.

The Goo Goo Dolls will play a concert at the Warner Theatre in Erie Tuesday December 5. Tickets are on sale now.

The movies for the Holiday Film Series at the Big Green Screen Theater are The Lion King (Dec 5), The Incredibles (Dec 12), the excellent 1961 version of 101 Dalmations (Dec 19) and Toy Story (Dec 26).