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Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday January 16, 2007

A couple dozen of off duty Erie County Sheriff deputies held a press conference yesterday. They citied concerns over Erie County Council limiting their authority including taking away their powers of arrest. I can see why they’d be concerned with their safety. They are law enforcement officers and people should obey their orders.

Erie County Department of Health Chairman Dr Tony Ruffa submitted his resignation. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family. Yeah, right. I wonder if he was asked to. Maybe it was just that Ruffa couldn’t take all the heat he caused with the county-wide smoking ban.

We’re due for snow today. The ground is saturated and there is a lot of standing water which has now turned into ice. Not easy to get around. And as Emma pointed out turn your headlights on if your wipers are on. It’s the law. It’s also common sense. It makes it much easier for other drivers to see you.

A poster designed for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 by a fine arts/English major at Alfred University has been selected for a monetary award, posting on the expo’s Web site, and inclusion in a traveling exhibit. Kalie Stiffler of Erie, PA, created the poster as an assignment in last semester’s design class taught by Michelle Lockwood, assistant professor of design. “The students’ posters were sent to China and submitted with entries from all over the world,” said Lockwood. Stiffler is a daughter of Gregory and Denise Stiffler of Erie, PA, and a graduate of Northwest PA Collegiate Academy.

The Gannon University men’s basketball team (5-9) blasted Penn State McKeesport 100-50 Monday night in a non-conference affair at the Hammermill Center.

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team beat Pitt-Bradford 64-56 and the Behrend women’s team edged Pitt-Bradford 69-64.

The Green Bay Packers promoted Joe Philbin to offensive coordinator. Philbin served as offensive coordinator Allegheny College 1990-93.

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).

The Arts Council of Erie will honor members of the business and arts community for their contributions to the arts at the 19th Annual Business/Arts Appreciation Reception. The celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Mercyhurst College. The evening will begin with hors d oeuvres and refreshments in the lobby of the D’Angelo Center at 5:30 pm as members of the Erie Junior Philharmonic perform. A presentation will commence at 6:30 p.m. At that time, the 2006 Business/Arts Appreciation awards will be presented to: Northwest Savings Bank (Business/Arts Award), Hoop and Marne Roche (Arts Service Award), and Don and Susan Baxter (Applause Award). This year s awards were created by local print artist Kate Bender. Dr Frank Pogue, president of Edinboro University and community chairperson of the 2007 United Arts Fund Drive, will introduce this year s fundraising campaign, which officially kicks off on February 1. The United Arts Fund, now in its 40th year, is a major source of financial support for the arts in Erie. The presentation will conclude with premiere excerpts from Arts Unwrapped, a documentary produced by Community Access Television. As a thank-you to the community its continued support of the arts, this year’s Business/Arts Appreciation Reception is free of charge. This event is made possible through the generous support of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, PNC Bank, and Erie Beer. For more information, contact Zachary Flock, Program Associate, at (814) 452-3427 or by email: zachf@artscounciloferie.org.

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.

Peek’n Peak Resort and Conference Center will be host of a Jeep Terrain Park Challenge grassroots qualifier event for amateur skiers and snowboarders Saturday January 20. The competition will be from 10 am to noon. Registration is from 9 to 10 am. You can download an Entry Form and Waiver form here. Participants must have a valid lift ticket. Helmets are required. The Jeep Terrain Park Challenge is an amateur ski and snowboard series which holds 75 events throughout the country. The Challenge invites skiers to show their moves on the rails, jumps and other terrain park obstacles. The top male and female participants from each qualifier will advance to six regional competitions. The top finisher in the four categories from each regional event will earn a spot in the finals March 10 in Sugar Bowl, CA.

Get some great exercise while enjoying the quiet winter woods with the “Forests by Cross-Country Ski: Skiing Basics” at Presque Isle State Park on Saturday January 20 at 10 am. If there is not sufficient snow, a hike of the same theme will still take place! No skis? Rent from the park concession located in Shelter 2. No fee, no registration. Meet at the Presque Isle Lighthouse lot.

Don’t let winter get you down. Get out and enjoy the season by taking a hike on snowshoes at Presque Isle State Park on Saturday January 20 at 1 pm. The hike will take participants through the interior trails. If you don’t have snowshoes, borrow ours! If there is not sufficient snow, a hike of the same theme will still take place. No fee, registration required to borrow snowshoes. Meet at the Presque Isle Lighthouse lot.

There will be a fundraiser for the proposed skate park in Erie on January 20 at Forward Hall. Admission for the all age show is $10. The bands that will be playing include Common Enemy, Whiplash, Cardboard Box, Piranha Deathmatch and Last of a Dying Breed.

Shake off the winter blues during with a day of fun during the “Winter Adventure Day” at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center on Saturday, January 20. Learn to snowshoe, check out cross-country skiing, test your winter survival skill, venture into ice fishing and more! No fee, No registration. Various locations on Presque Isle. 11am - 4pm. Meet at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Call 814-833-7424 for more info. Check out some true survival skills on the BIG Green Screen during Winter Adventure Day: Adventure Movie Package - Buy Two regular priced Movie Tickets and get a FREE Large Popcorn! Not valid with any other discounts. Or “Two” True Adventure Package - See Everest AND Lewis and Clark for only $2 more than the regular price of 1 ticket. (valid for same day movie only)
Everest (Showtime’s at 12N, 2pm, 4pm)
Lewis and Clark Adventure Package (Showtime’s 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm)

Curtis Granderson, the Erie SeaWolves Centerfielder and 2004 Eastern League MVP Canididate will be in Erie on Wednesday, January 24 at the annual Erie SeaWolves Hot Stove Banquet. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour. Individual tickets are on sale now for $35 Fans can also purchase a table of eight for $240 ($5 discount per ticket). The event will be hosted by Jim LeCorchick and will feature many special guest speakers including Detroit Tigers Director of Player Development Glenn Ezell, Mandalay Sports Entertainment VP of Development Rich Neumann and 2007 SeaWolves Pitching Coach A.J. Sager. For more information or to purchase tickets for the event, contact the SeaWolves at (814) 456-1300.

Identity theft can wreak havoc on otherwise perfect credit ratings and wipe out bank accounts. And it’s a crime that’s growing by the minute. Learn more about this alarming crime as Stephen Szwejbka, director of the criminal justice program at Mercyhurst North East, presents “Information on and Prevention of Identity Theft,” on Wednesday, Jan 24, at 7:30 pm in Miller Hall, Room 116, on the MNE campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.

The Cleveland Indians have announced the line up for this year’s Winter Caravan that will be visiting Erie on Thursday, Jan 25. The event will be held at the Dr Gertrude A Barber National Institute, 136 East Avenue. A ball park dinner will be served in the gym starting at 5 pm, with the program beginning at 6:30. Players scheduled for the Caravan include star first baseman Ryan Garko, left fielder Jason Michaels, and second baseman Josh Barfield. Hitting Coach Derek Shelton is also on the roster, along with team announcer Matt Underwood. The players and coach will present a brief program and answer questions from the audience, and will sign autographs for youngsters in attendance. A charity auction will be held featuring team memorabilia and apparel and prime game ticket packages. All proceeds from the auction and the event will benefit services to children and adults at the Barber National Institute. Dinner includes hot dogs, chips and beverages. Tickets are just $7, and are available in advance at the Barber National Institute and Hector’s Restaurant. For more information, please call 453-7661.

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.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host only the third performance of “Inspired by America,” a groundbreaking program that fuses live music performed by Cypress String Quartet with an original film based on Jacob Needleman’s best-selling book The American Soul. Directed by Emmy and Peabody winner Michael Schwarz, the film uses American art, landscapes, news footage, readings, and other images and sounds to reflect the diversity of the American story. The event, part of Music at Night: The Logan Series, will be held at 7 pm on Thursday, February 1, in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons. Tickets are required. Music at Night tickets can be purchased at the door on February 1, or in advance at the Reed Union Building main desk or online. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8.50 for adults over 60, $5 for Penn State Behrend students, and $4 for children under the age of 16.

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.

On Feb 25, the Brewerie at Union Station in Erie hosts the Erie Illusion women’s football team Beer Fest.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at January 16, 2007 7:07 AM

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