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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday March 28, 2007

For those of you that didn’t do well in science, ice melts at 32 degrees. Yesterday, a women (name withheld to protect the stupid) was on the ice dunes at Presque Isle State Park when a chunk broke off. Amazingly, she had her cell phone on her, called 911 and was rescued by members of the US Coast Guard Station in Erie. This is the second rescue they have made recently of people floating on ice in Lake Erie.

Zack Torquato of the Erie Otters was sentenced to two years probation along with fines for an incident involving a minor girl last October in Saginaw when he was a member of the Saginaw Spirit. He pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor assault and battery charges. He was also ordered to undergo counseling, perform 250 hours of community service and be responsible for any costs the victim pays out for counseling or anything involved with this case over the next two years.

Red Panda cubs Jishnu and Tenzin, made their public debut yesterday at Sydney’s Taronga zoo. They were born on January 8 to their American-bred mother Wanmei and Aussie dad, Mayhem. Wanmei was brought over from Erie Zoo last year to breed with Mayhem to establish a new bloodline and broaden the genetic pool.

Faculty at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, won both of the University’s 2007 awards to honor exceptional leadership of an academic program. George Looney, associate professor of English and creative writing, received the Penn State Undergraduate Program Chair Leadership Award for his direction of the college’s BFA in Creative Writing. John Fizel, professor of economics and chair of the Penn State iMBA, won the Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award. Both were honored Monday, March 26, at a ceremony held on the University Park campus. Additionally, Greg Morris, professor of American literature, was one of four winners University-wide of the 2007 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching. “Penn State employs just under 5,500 full-time faculty across the University, so to receive three awards is quite an honor for the college,” Chancellor Jack Burke said. “Sweeping the graduate and undergraduate program leadership awards is especially significant, because it recognizes Penn State Behrend’s ability to create and manage innovative, exciting programs within the context of the larger University.”

K2S, PC, a leading Erie PA based accounting and advisory firm for individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations, announced the successful launch of its newly redesigned web site, k2scpa.com.

Betsy Bechtolt Magley has been appointed chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. Magley, who holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Allegheny College in Meadville, is the director of development at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

Abraxas Corporation, a risk mitigation technology company based in Northern Virginia, announced that Tom Ridge of Erie, the former Secretary of Homeland Security and Governor of Pennsylvania, has joined its Board of Advisors.

The Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA) is excited to partner with the Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Industry Board and the Technology Industry Partnership to release a nationwide survey concerning radio frequency identification technology. The survey will serve as a needs assessment for RFID training, focusing on basic knowledge and RFID implementation. The aim is to improve education for companies who are already involved with this groundbreaking technology, as well as those companies who one day aim to be involved. The survey will be distributed to 20,000 companies in 50 states.

Karin Nicholls has resigned as Mercyhurst College head women’s basketball coach. She is leaving the coaching profession and is taking a sales position in Raleigh, NC.

Next Wednesday, the West Coast Hockey Club, an independent select team of 16 Northwest players, will begin their bid for the USA Hockey 14-under tier II bantam division national championship in a 12-team field in Buffalo. On of the top players on the team is Jacob Grimm. His father is Greg Grimm, a native of Erie, Pa, played hockey at Gannon.

The Gannon women’s lacrosse team (7-0) is ranked sixth for the second consecutive week in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Top 10.

The St Martins Center 9th annual Homeownership Expo will be held March 29 from 11:30 am - 6:30 pm at the Blasco Memorial Library. There will be information on homes, mortgage products, refinancing options, homes inspections, lead paint issues and more. Admission is free and open to everyone.

Mercyhurst College welcomes noted historian Dr Ralph Ketcham, Emeritus Professor of History, Political Science and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, who will address “Lincoln’s Union: Where it came from, and what it Meant,” on Thursday, March 29, at 8 pm in Walker Recital Hall.

US Olympic figure skater Emily Hughes will perform at the Gliding Stars of Erie 7th annual ice show on March 31 at 7 pm at Mercyhurst College Ice Arena. Tickets are $5 advance, available by calling (814) 825-5555. Taylor Firth, a US national competitor, will also skate at the show, while Tennessee Back Porch performs. Proceeds benefit Gliding Stars, which provides assisted skating for persons challenged by disabilities.

The Catholic Studies Speaker Series at Mercyhurst College will present noted author Mary Gordon on Wednesday, April 11, for a presentation titled, “Catholicism Through a Literary Lens.” She will speak at 8:15 pm in the Walker Recital Hall. The program is free and open to the public.

Author and actor Peter Coyote will kick off the 2007 Literary Festival at Mercyhurst College with an appearance on Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 pm in the college’s Taylor Little Theatre. The festival, with a theme of “The Arts and the Counter-Culture: Then and Now,” continues April 19 with a visit by novelist Francine Prose and culminates April 25 with an event celebrating student creativity.

Alto saxophone sensation Dave Pietro will be joined by four Brazilian musicians to present a special evening of Latin jazz at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, April 19. Music at Night tickets can be purchased at the door on April 19, 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 kids under 16. In addition to the Music at Night performance, Dave Pietro’s Banda Brazil will perform at noon on Wednesday, April 18, also in McGarvey Commons. This one-hour concert, part of the Music at Noon series, is free and open to the public.

 

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 28, 2007 7:08 AM

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Posted by: Emma at March 28, 2007 10:16 AM

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