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Erie PA News and Events for Friday November 17, 2006

When the bridge going over the Wintergreen Gorge for Bayfront Connector was being built, a crane was torched, spikes were placed in trees and equipment was vandalized. It is believed that a group affiliated with ELF (Earth Liberation Front), an environmental group made up of radical liberal Democrats, caused the damage. Now the anti-icing system on the bridge has been destroyed. The speculation is that the vandalism could have been done by the same terrorist group.

There is a cute story by Julie Stoiber in todays Philadelphia Inquirer. One her family traditions is that her Father made the Thanksgiving pie. It started when her Father was a sales rep for food wholesaler the C A Curtze Company in Erie in the 1940’s. A rep for General Mills gave him a package of Apple Pyequick and told him to try it.

Gannon University is sponsoring a Computer Programming Contest for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Interested students can begin registering for the contest on Dec 4. All submissions to the contest must be made by March 1, 2007. The contest is designed for students interested in programming in Visual Basic, C++, and other high-level programming languages. Entries can be written in any programming language that is executable on a PC running a LINUX or Windows operating system. All students who enter must have a sponsoring teacher from their respective high school. Entries also must be accompanied by the sponsoring teacher’s contact details as well as clear documentation of: the problem the program is intended to solve, the capabilities of the program and correct operation of the program. Students can make submissions individually or as a group. All entries are free. Judging of entries will take place through March 14, 2007, with the winners being announced in April. Cash prizes will be awarded.
To register, students should click here. For more information, contact Gannon University’s Computer and Information Science Department at 814-871-7738.

The Marine Corps Reserve Erie Toys For Tots Program is asking for your help. Their goal this season is to make sure that every child in Northwestern Pennsylvania has a gift to open on Christmas. Please help by donating new, unwrapped toys at one of the designated drop off locations or at one of their events where you can help.

Former Dalas Cowboys Center Mark Stepnoski of Erie was not among first-year eligible players to make the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2007. The preliminary list of 111 former players, coaches and contributors was cut to 25 modern-era semi-finalists on Thursday. Stepnoski attended Erie Cathedral Prep and Pitt. He was a 5 time Pro Bowl center.

The Saginaw Spirit beat the Erie Otters 4-3. Otters forward Nick Palmieri and defenseman Josh Kidd were included on the National Hockey League Central Scouting Preliminary List for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Among Ontario Hockey League players Palmieri was rated eighth while Kidd was ranked 11th. Kidd was also the top OHL defenseman listed in the Preliminary Rankings.

Lake Erie Speedway announced that their regular night of racing will now be held on Saturday nights. What’s shocking is the announcement on their site that they want drivers to hold off on send in their 2007 NASCAR Applications. Is the track losing it’s NASCAR affiliation?

At the Pitt and West Virginia football game last night, someone left a tractor in the Pittsburgh parking lot with its lights on. It has West Virginia license plate EIEIO. Please remove your vehicle or it will be towed.

The Knights of Columbus Council 4262 St Alphonsus Ligouri is having a Sports Raffle at Skateway on Buffalo Road today, Friday November 17. The doors open at 5 pm. The cost is $10 this gets you a chance on the 30+ guns they will raffle off and all the Stack’s wings and beer you can handle. There will be shuttle service from the K-Mart and Giant Eagle parking lots to Skateway.

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 Tony award-winning musical “Titanic” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse through November 19. Call (814) 454-2852 ext 0 for ticket information.

The “Victorian Holidays: A Holiday Heritage Festival” exhibit at the Erie County Historical Society Watson-Curtze Mansion, 356 W 6 St, runs through December 31.

This Saturday, Nov 18, will be a Free Admission Day at the ExpERIEnce Erie Children’s Museum in celebration of National Chemistry Week 2006. The museum is intended for kids 2-12. The museum is located at 420 French St in Erie, and will be open from 10 am until 4 pm that day. Free admission is made possible by the member institutions of the Erie Section of the American Chemical Society: Penn State Behrend, Allegheny College, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Mercyhurst College, and University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.

Nicole was born with Cystic Fibrosis. She spent 20 years having trouble just breathing. She recently had a double lung transplant. There are two local benefit shows going on in Erie area for her hospital bills and living expenses.
On Saturday Nov 18 at 6 pm a benefit will be held at the Polish Falcons Club, 602 E 19th St. Joshua Reed and Tricia Hillbrich are hosting the party. Cost is $10 at the door. Raffles, food. Fun times.
Then the next day, Sunday Nov 19 at 6 pm Laura is hosting a benefit at 6 pm at Forward Hall, 2502 Peach St.

Organizers of the Heart of the Alleghenies Folk Music Festival will present a special afternoon of workshops in the folk music tradition on November 19 from 1-3 pm at the Erie Historical Society Watson-Curtze Mansion, 356 West 6 St. Learn to play a mountain dulcimer, with no musical talent required. Mountain dulcimers will be provide, however participants are encouraged to bring their own if possible. Reservations required. Cost is $30.

Michael Acri Boxing Promotions 22nd annual Erie Boxing Classic will be held Wednesday, November 22, at The Avalon Hotel, 16 West 10th Street in Erie, PA. The first bout will begin at 8 pm. The headliner will be Jesus Francisco “Panchito” Zepeda vs Paul Spadafora (38-0-1, 15 KOs) in a 10 round junior welterweight bout. Tickets, priced at $60 (Golden Ringside), $40 (Ringside) and $20 (General Admission), can be purchased at The Avalon Hotel, Dee’s Cigar Store, Johnny’s Sports Bar and the Ringside Restaurant.

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre production of James Joyce’s “The Dead” opens November 30. Set in 1904, the last and best known of the short stories collected in the Dubliners, this intimate musical portrays a homespun Yuletide party with Irish music, dancing, food, drink, and good fellowship. Sparkling songs, many of them traditional-sounding Irish melodies that are performed as entertainment by the partygoers, are all original. Book by Richard Nelson, music by Shaun Davey, lyrics adapted by Davey and by Richard Nelson. Directed by Shawn Clerkin, assistant professor, theatre, and director of the Gannon theatre program. Additional performances will be given Dec 1-3 and Dec 7-9. All shows are at 8 pm, except for Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras St. For more information, call the box office at (814) 871-7494.

Experience Erie’s premier holiday tradition with an outstanding group of musicians and everyone’s favorite newsworthy entertainer, Amanda Post. Singing along with Amanda this season is the ever popular and talented Brenda Evans, close friend and celebrated song master Bob Martin and of course sister Abby Daggett. Lead by piano virtuoso James Madden, the band includes perennial string masters Brian Hunt and Carl Hultman along with James Abate (drums), Dave Stertevant (violin), Derf Hopsecger (bass), and Chris Dempsey (horns). “One Voice for Christmas with Amanda Post” will be performed Saturday December 2 at 8 pm and Sunday, December 3 at 2 pm at the Warner Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at the Warner Theatre Box Office (814) 452-4857. Cost is $12, $18, VIP seating $25.

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

Charles M Telesco, a professor of astronomy at University of Florida, will host “Worlds in Collision” during an Open House Night in Astronomy program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Telesco’s presentation will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Dec 7, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. It is free and open to the public, and, weather permitting, will be followed by astronomical viewing from the college’s Mehalso Observatory.

The Gem City Jazz Ensemble will also be providing entertainment at this year’s St Vincent Festival of Trees on Friday, November 24th at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center on upper Peach Street. Take a break from your hectic and exhausting Black Friday shopping and enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds of Christmas, featuring 50 professionally decorated trees. You’ll probably be out-and-about anyway, so stop in and see them. Gem City will be playing from 7-8:30 pm that evening.

The next production at the Roadhouse Theater is “SantaLand Diaries” and “Season’s Greetings.” Playwright, author, and National Public Radio commentator David Sedaris compose two entertaining, irreverently witty essays which were adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello. The production opens with a post-show reception the evening after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24 and continues through Saturday, December 23. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656 or in person at the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Arts 145 West 11th Street. Box Office hours are 2-6 PM Tuesday - Saturday. The theater accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Two facets of the choral music program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will be showcased at its annual fall concert on Tuesday, Nov 28. The concert will begin at 8 pm in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. The College Choir and the Studio Singers both will perform under the direction of Daniel Barnard, lecturer in music. Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are available at the door or at the Reed Union Building information desk.

Shangahi Quartet, a versatile ensemble known for its passionate musicality, impressive technique, and multicultural innovation, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Friday, Dec 1. Their lunchtime appearance, part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series, will begin at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. It is free and open to the public.

The War at the Shore II wresting showcase will be held Friday, Dec 1 at the Tullio Arena. Fort LeBoeuf vs Mount Pleasant and McDowell vs General McLane takes place at 6 pm. Edinboro vs Michigan State and Mercyhurst vs Gannon go at it at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 day of event at the door or only $6 in advance through Ticketmaster.

The Holiday Toy Drive (benefiting SafeNet Erie) and Gift Wrapping Party will be held at the Plymouth Tavern, 1109 State Street, on Wednesday, December 13 at 6 pm. Contact Melissa Newell at melissamnewell(at)gmail.com for information regarding the Toy Drive. Yep! has partnered with United Way Young Leaders for this event. Please join them in providing gifts for local families currently being sheltered.

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).

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at November 17, 2006 7:02 AM

Comments

Posted by: Rich at November 17, 2006 8:59 AM