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Erie PA News and Events for Good Friday, Friday April 6, 2007

For the month of March, wagers at Presque Isle Downs and Casino totaled $206,071,163.08. Payouts were $186,914,595.44. Erie County will received about $10 million a year in taxes from the racino. A public hearing was held yesterday to figure out how to spend the windfall. The money will be put into 2 accounts - one for economic development and another for costs caused by casino such as roads and public safety. Everything from funding regional assets such as the zoo to funding a badly needed community college to hiring more police officers for the city were mentioned. Looks like they should consider creating an authority to handle the money. That would keep the politicians at least one arms length away from your money. And it is your money. It’s taxpayer money. Not theirs.

The southbound lanes of I-79 between Edinboro and Saegertown closed for hours as state police and tow truck operators responded to accidents in white-out conditions and the area was blasted by snow. No serious injuries were reported but a number of people will be shopping for new vehicles. Even today they are advising people not to take I-79 and to take alternate routes such as Rt 19.

Nexstar Broadcasting has appointed Louis A Gattozzi to be the vice president and general manager for WROC-TV in Rochester. Gattozzi served as vice president and general manager at WJET-TV in Erie for nine years.

The debut novel by Joyce Anthony of Erie PA, Storm, has received good reviews and is selling well on Amazon.com.

Meadville native Frederick Douglass IV, great-great grandson of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, will return to his roots when he appears at Mercyhurst College on Thursday, April 18, as part of the American History Lecture Series. While in Erie, Douglass IV said he and his wife, BJ, an A Cappella vocalist and motivational speaker, intend to visit some of their favorite spots, and also spend time with Douglass IV’s father, 96-year-old Frederick Douglass III, who resides in Meadville. Currently a resident of Baltimore, Md, Douglass IV travels throughout America to perpetuate the legacy of his famous ancestor by lecturing about him, rendering his speeches and reenacting key episodes of his life. Douglass IV’s free, public lecture begins at 8 pm in Walker Recital Hall, situated in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center on Mercyhurst’s Erie campus. Tickets are required and will be made available to the college community April 10-13, one per student, two per faculty and staff; and three each to the general public starting April 14. Tickets can be picked up at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center box office (824-3000).

Unfortunately, Opening Day 2007 was postponed. But Erie SeaWolves fans can still take advantage of “Opening Day (Times TWO)!” Any fan that purchases One ticket for “Opening Day (Times TWO)” on Friday, April 6 against Altoona will receive TWO free tickets to the game. Fans can just visit the SeaWolves box office on Friday to take advantage of this great offer. (Offer only available Friday, April 6, 2007). Friday will also be double giveaway night with the first 1,000 fans receiving a 2007 SeaWolves calendar and the first 2,000 fans receiving a 2007 schedule poster. In addition coffee, hot chocolate, and cappuccino will be sold for just $1. Gates for Friday night’s game will open at 6 p.m. with the first pitch set for 6:35 pm. On the mound for the SeaWolves will be rightie Dallas Trahern against Altoona’s Josh Shortslef. In the event that Friday’s game is postponed, Saturday night will be “Opening Day(Times 3)!” Fans can take advantage of a buy one ticket, get THREE free offer for the game. Saturday would also feature a triple giveaway night. In addition to fans receiving schedule posters and calendars, the first 1,000 will also receive a 2007 magnetic schedule. The coffee, hot chocolate, and cappuccino specials will also continue. The SeaWolves will continue to multiply the ticket offer until the Opening Day (Times X) finally takes place.

Hockey Canada announced that Erie Otters forward Zack Torquato has been selected as one of the 22 players who will make up Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team that will compete at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Tampere and Rauma, Finland between April 11th and 22nd.

Mercyhurst College grad Rob Keefe had 2 interceptions for the Spokane Shock of arenafootball2 as they won their season opener 51-35 against the Stockton Lightning in front of 10,653 fans.

The Community Blood Bank’s Blood Mobile will be having a blood drive at Belle Valley Presbyterian Church, 1694 Norcross Road (near the Belle Valley Fire Department) today, Good Friday, April 6 from 9 am to 3 pm, in the fellowship hall as part of the Holy Week remembrances. The public is encouraged to donate blood to help those in our community needing blood and blood products. Refreshments will be provided. Call 825-4433 for more information.

The Young Artists Debut Orchestra (YADO), in collaboration with the Harry T Burleigh Society, is holding vocal auditions for the premiere performance in Erie of Burleigh’s original orchestrations of African-American Spirituals on Saturday April 7 from12 pm - 5 pm. An accompanist is required, but can be provided by The Burleigh Society upon request. For information and to schedule an audition, please contact the YADO office at (814) 824-2179. Interested applicants must sing these Spirituals in the stylistically authentic manner which the composer intended. Applicants are encouraged to listen to vocal examples at: www.BurleighSociety.org.

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.

The Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing will host its annual community/health fair on Thursday, April 12 at the John E Horan Community Center, 730 Tacoma Road. The fair, titled “Prevention Adventure,” will run from 4-7 pm. It is free and open to the public; attendees need not live in the Horan Garden Apartments. For more information call (814) 871-5512.

The Professional Bull Riders tour will be in Erie Friday Apr 13 and Saturday Apr 14.

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.

The Builders Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania 47th annual Home Show takes place April 12-15 at Family First Sports Park, 8155 Oliver Road.

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.

Careers in law enforcement, firefighting, criminal justice and other public safety professions are on the rise, and the Mercyhurst College Center for Public Safety (CPS) is quickly becoming a regional force in preparing individuals to serve in this field. Learn more about all that the Center for Public Safety has to offer at an Open House on Wednesday, April 18, from 6-7:30 pm, at the Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building on the campus of Mercyhurst - North East, 16 W Division St, North East, PA.

Literary nonfiction writer Marilyn Abildskov will close the 2006-07 Creative Writer’s Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, with a reading on Thursday, April 19. Abildskov will read from her works beginning at 6 pm in the Smith Chapel worship space. A 4:30 pm reception for her in the Smith Chapel living room will precede the reading; both are free and open to the public.

The Penn State Behrend Lion Entertainment Board 5th annual Battle of the Bands is going to be hitting Erie Hall on April 20. This year legendary ska band Less Than Jake along with fellow Fueld By Ramen artist The A.K.A.’s will join the ranks of bands who have taken the stage for this massive event. The battle from 1:30 - 6:30 will be FREE ADMISSION. Admission to LTJ and AKA’s will be $5 for General Admission and FREE with PSU ID.

 

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.

John Kanzius and Dr Steven Curley will be holding an informational symposium on the Kanzius cancer treatment on April 28 at 7pm at the Mercyhurst College Mary D`Angelo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10. For more information call Mercyhurst at (814) 824-3000.

The Tragically Hip play the Warner Theatre in Erie, Pa on May 18. Reserved seat tickets are $31.50.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at April 6, 2007 6:57 AM

Comments

Posted by: Joyce A. Anthony at April 7, 2007 9:24 PM

Posted by: Ken at August 27, 2007 6:54 PM

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