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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday March 8, 2007
Posted by Dennis on March 8, 2007
Primary election day often results in few headline-grabbing returns and low voter turnout. But this year could be different. On May 15, voters will be asked to vote on ballot questions that affect their school property tax rate. The Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of 2006 (Special Session), allows school district residents to reduce property taxes by authorizing additional income taxes. It also limits school district property tax rate increases to the annual inflation percentage, unless school district voters approve an additional increase through a back-end referendum. Act 1 required that each school district appoint a local tax study commission to recommend the rate of the earned income tax (EIT) or personal income tax (PIT) that voters will approve or disapprove. The income taxes will fund property tax reductions in school districts. Further tax reductions would occur once recently approved slots facilities begin sending revenue to the Commonwealth. School boards have discretion to determine whether to recommend the EIT or the PIT, and the tax rate, so long as their action will provide property tax reductions of 50 percent of the maximum homestead exclusion allowed by law. Voters will also have a say in whether the district can increase property taxes by more than the inflation index. For Fiscal Year 2007-2008, the base index is 3.4 percent. The rates in Erie County school districts range as follows: 3.4 percent (Fairview); 4.0 percent (Millcreek); 4.4 percent (Harbor Creek); 4.5 percent (General McLane); 4.8 percent (North East); 5.0 percent (Erie City); 5.1 percent (Corry and Iroquois). Districts which had not adopted resolutions to adhere to the index are Fort LeBoeuf, Girard, Union City and Wattsburg.
An exhibition of works by Erie artist Debbie van der Bol are on display at Figgies Restaurant, 6990 W Lake Rd in Fairview. (The food there is GREAT.) Her first solo show includes recent works, on sale, including several of The Cayman Islands (where Deb lived for over twenty years), and Ireland (travels), and a variety of Erie County original paintings. The event is hosted by Glass Growers Gallery, at Figgies, through April 2.
Erie PA artist Heather Hertel will have her works exhibited at the Gallery on 43rd in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville. Opening reception is March 9, 2007, 7-10 pm. The show runs March 9 to April 27, 2007.
The Gannon softball team dropped two spots from its preseason ranking and is listed 18th in the first regular-season National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 released Wednesday. Gannon recently completed its season-opening Spring Trip with an 11-2 record.
Two former Erie Otters, Colin Pepperal and Brian Lee have joined the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL. Pepperal signed a free agent contract and the team traded for Lee.
Abe Rak if Fredonia NY will miss his entire senior season after a shoulder injury. He will have surgery next week. Rak has already signed with Mercyhurst College.
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, this evening, Thursday, March 8, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission is free and open to the public.
National Christian School Invitational basketball tournament will be held March 8-10 at Family First Sports Park in Erie PA. Most area hotel rooms are booked. Expect delays at Peach Street restaurants.
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 Gem City Concert Band will provide entertainment during the Millcreek Mall's "Spring Bridal Show" event at the Millcreek Mall this Sunday, March 11, from 12 noon until 1:30 on the Center Stage. The performance is free and open to the public.
You won't want to miss one of Mercyhurst North East's favorite annual events: the "Patti Sullivan and Friends Irish Concert" on Sunday, March 11, at 2 pm in St Mary's Chapel. The performance is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow. Sullivan, MNE's music director, has invited barbershop chorus Lake Erie Sound and quartet the Lighthouse Gang, as well as the popular Irish step dancers Rince Na Tiarna, to join her at St Mary's Chapel for an afternoon of entertainment that is sure to get everyone in the Irish spirit.
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.
The Classic Rock Dance, a fund raiser for the family of Erie soldier Katie Beckwith, with the Bryan Burton Band will be held on March 24 at the Millcreek American Legion, 4109 West 12th Street in Erie (next to the Airport) starting at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for a donation of $5 per person. Katie was injured when a roadside bomb detonated beside her Humvee in Iraq. She is presently being hospitalized at Fort Knox. The benefit is to raise money for travel expenses for her family to visit her.
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.
Posted by Dennis at March 8, 2007 7:07 AM
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