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Erie PA News and Events for Saturday January 20, 2007

The White House has nominated Lieutenant General James M Dubik of Erie PA to take charge of training Iraqi military and police forces. Dubik has been commanding general at Fort Lewis and I Corps since 2004. He graduated from Holy Rosary, Erie Cathedral Prep and in 1971 graduated from Gannon University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

A few weeks ago, Auditor General Jack Wagner released an audit of the City of Erie Aggregate Pension Fund, which found that a new retirement provision enacted by the city in 2004 resulted in the city’s receipt of $893,745 of excess state pension aid from the commonwealth. Wagner said the money must be repaid to the commonwealth. The city would also be on the hook for 2005 and 2006. Erie City Council voted to drop the DROP plan but since it’s part of the union contract, it might not be going away. The mayor and council has basically conceded that the city is wrong and that the city has to repay the money.
I have an opinion written by Paul Curry, the former city solicitor, saying he thinks Wagner is wrong and the city should fight it. With all the money at stake, the city should probably fight it if nothing other than to negotiate a much smaller amount to be repaid.

The Erie Bayfront Convention Center has booked their first conventions. The Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center will hold its biennial conference in Erie PA August 4-6, 2008. And in 2009, the Pennsylvania Kiwanis Club will hold conventions March 26-29 and August 19-23.

Ron Richardson sends word from Maui (50 degrees warmer than Erie) that he was going past the Hyatt and saw that there was an awards party going on for the Travel Centers of America and saw a sign that said “Harborcreek, PA”. Apparently the Harborcreek store won some sort of award that night but he see which one.

Nick Palmieri scored twice to lead the Erie Otters to a 4-3 win over the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors in an Ontario Hockey League game played last night in front of 3,354 at the Tullio Arena. Zack Torquato added a goal and an assist for the Otters, who ended a seven-game losing streak with the victory to improve to 10-31-1-2 on the season. Josh Vatri netted the other Otters goal while Kelly Geoffrey collected two assists. Kevin Beech made 29 saves for his first victory as a member of the Otters. The Otters return to action tonight at 7:30 pm at the Tullio Arena when the Mississauga IceDogs present the opposition.

The musical “Stand by Your Man” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse tonight and Jan 21. For tickets or more info call (814) 454-2852 ext 0.

The Roadhouse Theatre production of “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers” will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm through February 10. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at 814.456.5656. The Roadhouse Theatre 145 West 11th Street, Box Office hours: 2-6 pm Tuesday - Saturday. The Theater accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. It has been twenty years since Scott McClelland toured the country in Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues. After 625 performances of that Tony award winning play, Mr. Simon’s timing and comedic style had become part of McClelland’s acting arsenal. Now for the first time since Biloxi Blues the actor returns to a play by the greatest comic writer of the American Stage. The show is being directed by his wife Kim McClelland who acted in this same play on the stage at 1505 State Street several years before the McClelland’s met.

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)

The Mercyhurst College chapters of Kappa Gamma Pi education honor society and the Council for Exceptional Children will host their Second Annual Teaching and Learning Expo on Saturday, Jan 20, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center. Presenters include both Mercyhurst faculty members and other highly skilled in-service educators. The cost of the program is $5, including lunch. For more information, contact Dr Ruth Auld at 824-3370 or e-mail rauld@mercyhurst.edu.

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 20, 2007 7:09 AM

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