ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Monday December 18, 2006

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Erie PA News and Events for Monday December 18, 2006

Posted by Dennis on December 18, 2006

SP4 Jody (Gollihugh) Ghisoiu of Erie PA is serving as a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion and the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Camp Taji, Iraq. As explosive ordnance and disposal teams clear roads and other areas of improvised explosive devices and destroy insurgent weapons caches, she pulls security. Even though she likes her primary specialty, Ghisoiu said she hopes there’s no need for her services. “If I’m doing my job, it means someone’s been hurt or may die,” said Ghisoiu. “You hope for the best, but if it comes down to it, I’ll do anything I can to save a life.” Ghisoiu, who has two sons with her husband Mario, is spending her first tour in Iraq. She is a graduate of Mercyhurst College. She said her first mission outside the gates of Taji in which she witnessed EOD’s disposal of a huge weapons cache, left a lasting impression on her. “The best part was getting the chance to see EOD blow all that stuff up before it had a chance to hurt someone,” she said. From a story by LCPL Ryan L Tomlinson, 1st Marine Logistic Group Public Affairs.

During a parade welcoming back the Pottsville football team following their 28-23 loss to General McLane for the state AAA title, two fire trucks collided sending 3 firefighters to the hospital. All were treated and released. I called that TBS ‘Is this funny?’ hotline and they said since nobody was seriously hurt, you may laugh a little.

Jamie Arniel scored twice to lead the Guelph Storm to a 6-3 win over the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played Sunday afternoon in front of 3,533 at the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre. Zack Torquato, Josh Kidd and Josh Vatri scored for the Otters. Erie dropped their third straight and are 8-25-0-2 heading into the holiday break.

The Mercyhurst College men’s basketball team used a 32-5 run in the first half to defeat Northwood, 72-43, in the Championship game of the Mercyhurst Tournament.

Jason Jemison and Jim Grabowski combined to score 56 points as Southwest Baptist (Mo) defeated Gannon 92-80 Sunday evening in the Quincy/Subway Holiday Tournament consolation game. Gannon finished its five-game road swing without a victory.

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.

Natalie will give a Christmas piano recital at Luther Memorial Church on December 18 at 7 pm. Welcome the talented young lady back to Erie. She just returned from spending 4 months at Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen, Norway. She blogged her adventure at Natalie’s Notes from Norway. Admission is free and everyone is invited.

The Presque Isle Chorus, a member of Sweet Adelines International, will be holding their Christmas Concert on December 18 at 7:30 pm at the Trinity Luthern Church, 14 East 38 St. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The Polish Christmas Celebration “Wiligia” will be celebrated on December 21 at the East Erie Turners, 820 Parade St. For reservations, call Sabella’s Catering at (814) 868-3463. Tickets are $15. This will be a traditional meatless dinner complete with Oplatek, religious music, artifacts, and rare museum quality exhibits directly from Poland. Profits go to the European Cultural and Polish Museum.

“Nature For You and Your Little One” will be held Friday, December 22 with two sessions, morning 10-11 am or afternoon 1-2 pm at Presque Isle State Park. $2 fee, registration required by calling (814) 835-4550. Designed especially for 3-5 year olds and an accompanying adult, this interactive program get kids in touch with all of the nature of Presque Isle. Thre is a story, craft and outdoor exploration with children getting a truly hands-on adventure.

The 24th edition of the McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13, 2007 at Gannon University’s Hammermill Center. This year’s event features nationally renowned programs from California and Ohio, featuring rosters replete with top-ranked players.
The field is highlighted by the appearance of two of the most renowned players in Classic history. Delvon Roe, a 6’7” wing player for St. Edward of Lakewood, Ohio, is currently ranked as the Number 2 player in the junior class by PrepStars Recruiter’s Handbook, and is regarded as one of the best players in the nation regardless of class. Dallas Lauderdale of nearby Solon, Ohio, also is slated to perform, and the 6’10” explosive athlete is on everyone’s list of top centers in the nation.
Also entering the field for Classic 2007 is vaunted Westchester High of Los Angeles, California. The Comets, competing in their third McDonald’s Classic, are annually one of the nation’s top interscholastic programs.
The Classic will tip-off on Friday, January 12, with a first round, 7:00 PM match-up between Westchester and St. Edward. The 8:30 PM nightcap will feature Solon High and the host team Cathedral Prep.
St Edward is making their second appearance in the Classic, having won the title back in 1997. Head Coach Eric Flannery has been guiding the Eagles for eleven seasons and boasts of a 177-60 record including seven District titles, four regional crowns, and one state championship. His top players include current professionals Sam Clancy (USC), Jawad Williams (North Carolina), Steve Logan (Cincinnati), and Steve LePore (Wake Forest).
Also coming from neighboring Ohio is Solon High, featuring 6’10” All-American Dallas Lauderdale, who will play next season for Ohio State. The Comets are coached by highly-successful mentor Todd VanReeth, who in an 18-year career has compiled a 302-120 record, including a 92-29 record with Solon. His squads at Solon have won four league titles in the last six seasons, and have twice been a regional finalist.
The other visiting squad always brings impressive credentials and high aspirations for national championship recognition. Westchester High was California’s AAAA State Champions in 2005 and will feature 6’7 Dane Suttle, the reigning Los Angeles player of the year and junior Oscar Bellfield, who has been offered a scholarship by USC. The Comets are hoping their third trip to Erie ends with their second Classic crown.
Making a return to the Classic for the 24th consecutive year will be the Cathedral Prep Ramblers who are under the direction of head coach Brian Flanagan, who has gone 48-11 in his two seasons on the bench.
In his first season in 2004-‘05, he led the Ramblers to the Final Four in Pennsylvania with a banner record of 26-5, the fourth highest win total in school history. The Ramblers return just one starter from a year ago in junior Mark Blazek, but also have three seniors who saw regular minutes in guards Josh Licata and Ryan Heidt, along with center Jeff Wisinski.
General admission tickets cost $7 per night in advance for adults and $5 in advance for students, and went on sale to the general public on November 29th, 2006. Any remaining reserved tickets will also be on sale beginning on Wednesday, November 29th at the Cathedral Prep athletic office. General Admission tickets will be available on the same date at the Erie Sport Store, the Avalon Hotel, Dee’s News, and select McDonald’s Restaurants while they last. No phone orders will be accepted, and no tickets can be held. Another sell-out crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early.

Dennis Weed