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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday March 1, 2007

Presque Isle Downs and Casino opened yesterday to huge crowds. They estimated that 10,000 visited on opening day. I think that number is being very conservative. I think it was closer to 15,000. It seemed that about 60 percent of the cars in the lot had Pennsylvania tags. There were a ton of people from Ohio with many Ontario, New York, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia plates visible. I stopped by in the late afternoon and got a players card. The card number was in the 7,100’s. I did hear some numbers from the two day test run they did. The wagering those two days was around $2.6 million. The figures for Saturday was about $1 million with the profits going to the United Way of Erie County in an amount of over $97,600. Presque Isle Downs slots parlor is located at Exit 27 (Route 97) of Interstate 90. It will be open from 9 am to 4 am daily. The racino phone number is 1-866-ERIE-FUN.

Tom Ridge of Erie announced he has endorsed John McCain for President. Former Homeland Security Secretary Ridge will serve as national co-chair of Republican McCain’s presidential exploratory committee.

The Great Lakes Building Trades Council, an affiliation of 15 different trade unions with thousands of members (Including: Plumbers and fitters, Carpenters, Sheet metal workers, Iron workers, and other trades) is encouraging its members to support their community by giving blood during the month of March. The Great Lakes Building Trades Council and Barton Malow Company (overseeing the construction of the new convention center) have generously purchased 300 T-shirts to be given to union members who donate blood and support the Community Blood Bank in March. Union members and supporters can come in to any blood drive and sign up to support the Great lakes Building Trades during March, no appointment is needed for anyone to save a life. This great event kicks off with the blood mobile at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center today from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Union members will be available with their new T-shirts on, ready to give interviews about the importance of supporting the local hospitals and patients by giving blood to the Community Blood Bank of NW PA. All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9 am - 6 pm. Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9 am -12:30 pm. Photo ID required.

The Erie Zoo reopens today. It’s open at 10 am everyday until 5 pm.

Eid Passport, a leading provider of identity and access management programs, announced the appointment of Tom Ridge of Erie PA to its board of directors. The nation’s first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and former governor of Pennsylvania will serve on the Eid Passport board along with BG “Buddy” Beck, Admiral Thomas H Collins, General Ralph E “Ed” Eberhart, Raymond Humphrey, Sean Sullivan, and Eid Passport Chairman and CEO Steve Larson.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) named Jean Ewell, MIRM, the recipient of the Trina Ripley Excellence in Education Award. Ewell holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the SUNY at Plattsburgh and a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Gannon University in Erie, Pa.

Sarah Grab (Erie Villa Maria Academy) of West Virginia Wesleyan was named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team, College Division. The senior guard has a 3.98 gpa in Elementary Education.

Florida Southern’s Nicolle DiRaimo (Erie Villa Maria Academy) was chosen the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Freshman of the Year. DiRaimo, a forward from Erie, PA, averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. Making 21 starts, DiRaimo led the team with a .506 field-goal percentage.

The 25th annual Erie Sport and Travel Expo will be held at Family First Sports Park in Erie, Pa March 2-4. The show features fishing and hunting lodges, guides, outfitters, fishing charters and sporting goods vendors and boat and recreational vehicle dealers. General Admission $6 with children under 10 free.

The Roadhouse Theater production of "Glengarry Glen Ross" is scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm March 2-31. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656.

Allegheny College's Gator Activities Programming organization and Allegheny Student Government will host comedian and actor Wayne Brady for a live one-man show on Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm in Shafer Auditorium. Brady is widely recognized for his work on screen and stage. He is perhaps best known for his improvisational comedy on the television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Brady won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series for his work on that show. Brady also starred in his own ABC variety show, "The Wayne Brady Show," in 2001 and a daytime talk show of the same name that aired in 2002. He has also guest-starred on "The Drew Carey Show" and in 2004 was chosen to play the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway musical "Chicago." Tickets are available now. Allegheny students are $10 and $20 for the general public All seating is general admission. For more information go to http://www.allegheny.edu/waynebrady or call 814-332-2754.

The North East Community Players have open auditions March 5 and 6 at 7:30 pm for the suspense/ thriller "Night Watch," directed by Alan Koch. The cast calls for 5 men and 4 women and the performances are scheduled for April 6 - 7, 12 - 15, and 19 - 21. Auditions will be held at the NECP Theatre (25 Vine Street, 2nd Floor) in North East, PA.

Music lovers are invited to follow Road to the Isles, and take in the sights and sounds of traditional Celtic folk music and dance along the way. "Road to the Isles" is a Pittsburgh-based quintet of pipe, guitar, fiddle, and two dancers that will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 7 at 12 pm. Their presentation of Scottish and Irish music and dance is part of college's Rhythms of Life cultural series and begins at noon in the Reed Union Building's Bruno's Cafe. It is free and open to the public.

The concert band and jazz ensemble at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will play favorites "From Stage and Screen" at their annual joint spring concert. The performance will be held at 8 pm on Thursday, March 8, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Erie Art Museum's annual end-of-winter bash is heading for Motown, or at least Motown is heading for Just My Imagination, Saturday, March 10 at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel, 2800 West 8th Street. Just My Imagination will replace the Museum's very popular mARTi Gras Bash, but organizers say it will truly be one night to boogie down. "Live Motown music from Cleveland's Tony Quarles and the Discovery Band, great food, elaborate decorations and costume prizes are all planned for this event," said event Chairwoman Rebecca Styn. Tickets are $45 and all proceeds benefit the Erie Art Museum. For tickets call (814) 459-5477.

Food and fun both will be in abundance when Gannon University hosts its annual International Night on Saturday, March 10. The event will feature an "International Food Bazaar" with culinary delights from more than 20 countries, including Hong Kong, Sweden, Bahamas, France, Poland, Spain, Greece, Panama, Peru, India, Turkey, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The dinner will start at 6 pm. The entertainment portion of the event will begin at 7:30 pm and will feature numerous cultural performances including Filipino folk dancing, Indian dancing, Greek dancing, Polish dancing, Celtic soft shoe and tap dancing, and traditional Turkish dancing. Music also will be offered, including South Korean violin and Bosnian flute. International Night will be held in Gannon's Hammermill Center, Peach Street and South Park Row. Tickets can be purchased at the information desk of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for senior citizens, military, and children 10 and over; and $5 for children under 10.

McLane Church in Edinboro, PA will present its annual "PowerZone Weekend" Children's Ministry worship services on Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11, 2007 at the church, 12511 Edinboro Road, Edinboro. "PowerZone Weekend" is a weekend of worship services at McLane Church when the pre-school and elementary school aged students 'take over' the regular adult worship service and infuse it with high-energy music, motion and a message. Nearly 100 children along with their adult leaders will lead the worship service, presenting upbeat songs, funny skits, and an inspirational lesson designed to encourage everyone in attendance. The children of McLane Church prepare for weeks prior to this very popular worship service, learning songs and accompanying motions. Last year's "PowerZone Weekend" prompted the greatest weekend worship attendance of the 2005-2006 ministry year. As always, a complementary meal will accompany each of the three worship services: Saturday at 6 PM, and Sunday at 9 and 11 AM. For more information on the PowerZone children's ministry and directions to McLane Church, call (814) 734-1907 or go to www.mclanechurch.org.

The Northwest PA Maple Association 2007 Northwest PA Maple Taste and Tour Weekend will be held March 17-18, 10 am to 4 pm daily. Ten sugar houses in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Warren and Venango counties open their doors during the height of maple sugaring time.

Meadowmount Trio, a frequent contributor to National Public Radio hailed as "an ensemble of seamless rapport" by The Strad magazine, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 21. Meadowmount Trio appears as part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. Its performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at noon in the Reed Union Building's McGarvey Commons.

Think you have what it takes to sing the National Anthem at a Double-A baseball game? Well here is your chance. The Erie SeaWolves announced their National Anthem tryouts to be held Sunday, March 25 at the Millcreek Mall. Tryouts will be held on the main stage located at the center of the mall. Registration begins at 1:30 pm and tryouts begin at 2 pm. Those interested in auditioning will perform the National Anthem for a panel of judges. Auditions must be performed a capella. For more information about the National Anthem tryouts, please contact Carol Trumbo at (814) 456-1300 or via email at ctrumbo(at)seawolves.com. SeaWolves Opening Day for the 2007 season is April 5 against the Altoona Curve. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.

 

The Erie Micro Brew Festival presented by WQLN will be held April 21 at Union Station at 14th and French Streets. There will be 2 sampling sessions 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm. All proceeds support public broadcasting and all PLCB laws apply. Attendees must be 21. Tickets will be available soon at many Erie area locations. Scheduled to attend are: The BrewErie at Union Station, The Erie Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing, Pennsylvania Brewery, Voodoo Brewery, The Flying Bison, Ellicottville Brewing Company, North Country Brewing Company, Hereford and Hops, Sprague Farm and Brew Works, The Buffalo Brew Pub, Magic Hat Brewing and the East End Brewing Company.

 

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at March 1, 2007 7:01 AM

Comments

Posted by: Ttodd at March 1, 2007 11:06 AM

Posted by: Pete at March 1, 2007 5:45 PM

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