ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events Tuesday January 2, 2007

Of Note: Open Thread for June 30 - July 5, 2008, Erie 4th of July Fireworks, Gas Price Finder

« Erie PA News and Events Monday January 1, 2007 | Main | Erie PA News and Events Wednesday January 3, 2007 »

Erie PA News and Events Tuesday January 2, 2007

Posted by Dennis on January 2, 2007

Hugh Ogden, a native of Erie PA, drowned on Sunday when he fell through the ice on a Maine lake. Ogden was crossing Rangeley Lake on cross-country skis to get to the mainland from his camp when the ice gave way. He joined the faculty of Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut as Professor of English in 1967. He previously taught at the University of Michigan from where he received his PhD. He wrote several poetry books and was twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize in Poetry.

For the second time in a week there was a fire at Bizzarro’s 24 Hour Towing, 1626 Raspberry St. The a number of behicles were broken into. The business has a video surveillance system. I think they must also have a guard cat.

Bobby Hughes scored three times and collected two assists to lead the Kingston Frontenacs to a 12-4 win over the Erie Otters. I caught a few minutes of the game on the radio and heard that Andrew Hotham will be traded to Saginaw. The next Otters home game takes place Saturday (January 6th) when the Sarnia Sting visit the Tullio Arena in a 7:30 pm start.

The Erie Runners Club posted the results of the 2007 New Year’s Day 5 Mile Race. Scott Gill of Madison OH was the overall winner in a time of 28:31.

Ryan Zapolski, the Erie Cathedral Prep grad and Mercyhurst College recruit, has set the the Mahoning Valley Phantoms single season record for wins. The team is only half way through their season. He has 25 wins and a 2.26 goals against average with a .930 save percentage.

Minnesota head coach Glen Mason was fired as football coach. In his 10 seasons as coach of the Gophers, Mason compiled a record of 123-121. His first football coaching job was as an assistant at Allegheny College in 1973.

The Erie Broadway Series presents “Cirque Dreams-Jungle Fantasy.” A European circus act full of acrobatics and theatrics comes to the stage at Erie’s Warner Theatre on January 12 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $49.75, $39.75, $29.75. For more details call 814-452-4857 or 814-456-7070.

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.

A comprehensive, hands-on, 2 day RFID training will be offered in Erie, PA on January 17-18, 2007 from 8 am - 5 pm. This course is designed to prepare attendees for the CompTIA RFID+ examination, at a fraction of the cost of other national trainings. CompTIA certification is the industry standard for foundation-level information technology skills. Individuals interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of RFID technology, hardware and software capabilities, RFID system implementation and system maintenance should attend this course. The course is presented by the RFID Center of Excellence at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA).

Martin Luther King III, oldest son of Martin Luther King, Jr and Coretta Scott King, will speak at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, as part of the college’s 2007 King holiday celebration. King’s address, “My Father’s Dream, My Mission,” is part of Penn State Behrend’s annual Speaker Series and will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 18, in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons. Admission is free and open to the public, and King will take questions from the audience following his talk.

The Erie Chamber Orchestra in residence at Gannon University presents “The Annual Tribute Concert to Dr Martin Luther King, Jr” on January 19 at St Patrick’s Church, 130 East 4th St. The Shiloh Baptist Church Choir, under the direction of Evangelist DM Jamerson, will honor Dr King’s memory at 7:30 pm. The performance is free and open to everyone.

The 9th Annual MECA United Cerebral Palsy Barstool Open is set to take place on Saturday, February 24, 2007. Last years event had 1200 participants and raised $30000. Yes, 1200 people out drinking in downtown Erie on a cold February afternoon. Teams of 4 will compete in golf at 9 bars in downtown Erie PA. The putting exhibition contest takes place on holes with wacky designs. This year there are 14 bars participating. Click here for a registration form. Mail the registration form and enclose your check for $100, $25 per person, made payable to: MECA United Cerebral Palsy, 3745 West 12th St, Erie, PA 16505.

Dennis Weed