« Erie PA News and Events for Sunday July 8, 2007 | Main | Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday July 10, 2007 »

Erie PA News and Events for Monday July 9, 2007

Presque Isle State Park is closed today - on a day where temperatures are expected to approach 90 degrees. And forget about visiting the Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara. Governor Ed Rendell furloughed around 24,000 “non-essential” state employees at 12:01 am when he failed to get a budget passed. The casinos around the state including Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie will be open thanks to a judge. State Police, liquor store, and lottery workers will remain working. The main sticking point is Governor Rendell’s energy plan which calls for a new surcharge on electricity use, a tax increase. Republicans oppose the tax increase while Democrats support it.

There is an article in today’s edition of Inside Higher Ed written by Douglas J King called I Love My Commute. Dr King teaches at Gannon University, in Erie, Pa and lives in Pittsburgh. He’s been making the commute since 2004. Dear Dr King, I’m a Realtor in Erie. I can find you a home here. Call me.

GMD Films is shooting some scenes at Rack n’ Roll on West 39th St in Erie Pa on Monday July 9 at 3 pm. Extras are needed. My rear will be there…and ladies, you know thats what you’d go to see anyhow.

One of the fastest growing Facebook groups over the weekend was Not Quite Hollywood status, because I live in Erie, PA. “This group is for the people that don’t have a stick up their rear, and are more realistic about their lives. Or for the people that don’t look, live, or party like a rock star.” Hilarious. Genius. I joined.

Another Facebook group, My high school principal is going to prison, is up to 824 members. Yes, you guessed it. This is a reference to McDowell Intermediate High School Tom Maciulewicz who stole school equipment and sold it on eBay because he couldn’t get by on his $92,000 plus salary.

Teams participating in the 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day Race have found an environmentally friendly way to raise money: recycling used printer cartridges and cell phones. Breast Cancer 3-Day is a national event supporting breast cancer research and community outreach. The event takes place in 12 cities nationwide, beginning in Boston, August 3-5, and ending in San Diego, November 9-11. Organizers ask participants to walk an average of 20 miles a day and to raise a minimum of $2,200. To help meet this goal, more than 60 groups have signed on with FundingFactory of Erie PA to collect used printer cartridges and cell phones — those that can be refurbished or resold are turned into the Funding Factory’s Recycling Program in exchange for cash. For Breast Cancer 3-Day Race schedules and information, please visit www.The3Day.org, or call 1-800-996-3DAY.

The Akron Aeros dropped their fourth game in a row, losing to the Erie SeaWolves, 4-1, on Sunday in the Class AA Eastern League at Canal Park. The 3 game series between Akron and Erie concludes on Monday night at Canal Park, 7:05 first pitch. LHP Jon Connolly (3-3, 4.29 ERA) tosses for the ‘Wolves against LHP Shawn Nottingham (7-5, 4.03 ERA).

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre will offer a workshop especially designed for high school students through age 18. The First Shakexperience Theatre Workshop will provide acting and coaching in classical theatre, as well as an opportunity to perform in the abbreviated theatre production of Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” The workshop will be coordinated by Gannon graduates and theater faculty. Sessions times are 5:30 to 8 pm daily Monday-Friday,. July 9-28. Admission is free and limited to 20 students. For more information, call (814) 871-7493.

The 62nd Annual North East Fire Department’s Cherry Festival will be held July 10-14 at Heard Memorial Park in downtown North East. Plenty of food, rides, games, and, of course, cherry pies. The Cherry Queen Coronation will take place July 12. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at 4 pm. For more details, call 814725-5616.

Eight Great Tuesday’s is a free concert series on Tuesday nights at the Pepsi Amphitheatre inside Liberty Park. Here is the lineup for 8 Great Tuesday’s for 2007: July 10 - Big Leg Emma, Yankee Zydeco Company, Tiger Maple String Band, July 17 - Ana Popovic, July 24 - Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, July 31 - Dave Stevens Big Band, August 7 - PovertyNeck Hillbillies, August 14 - Jakes Blues, August 21 - Tab Benoit and August 28 - Big Brother and The Holding Company.

The Gem City Jazz Ensemble will present a concert on Thursday, July 12, from 7 to 8:30 pm in Erie, PA, at the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Gazebo, 560 East 3rd Street. The 20-member jazz band will perform many arrangements, including songs from jazz greats such as Sammy Nestico, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich. The concert is free and open to the public. Bring a blanket or chair to enjoy the show. For more information, call 814-825-4705 or visit www.gemcitybands.org.

The summer Smith Carillon Concert Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, begins Thursday, July 12, with a performance by Japanese carillonneur Toru Takao. The performance will begin at 7 pm, and is free and open to the public. Seating is on the lawn of the John M Lilley Library, so concert goers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Refreshments will be served.

The Cell Block will host the Erie Downtown Block Party on Thursday, July 12. Joe and the Crew, the former Benderz, will provide the free music.

Lake Erie Speedway is preparing for its annual Monster Truck Mania coming up on Friday and Saturday July 13th and 14th. This year’s event, sponsored by Gary Monahan’s Truckin 4WD Center and State Farm Insurance will feature a freestyle competition on Friday night, and Figure 8 style racing on Saturday night. The Monster Trucks that will be competing at Lake Erie Speedway in 2007 are Bigfoot, Snakebite, Devils Dodge, Storm Damage, Eradicator, Backdraft, Killer Bee and Thrasher. The front gates will open at 6:00 PM on both nights, with the “Party in the Pits” lasting until 7:00 PM and the show starting at 8:00 PM. Ticket prices are $12.00 for adults in advance, and $18.00 on the event day. Kids 12 and under are $5.00 in advance, and $7.00 at the gate.

Lvsitanvs, a pair of Portugese sister-carillonneurs, will perform duets on the Floyd and Juanita Smith Carillon at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, the evening of Thursday, July 19. The performance is part of the college’s summer Smith Carillon Concert Series. It begins at 7 pm and is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Seating will be on the lawn of the John M. Lilley Library, so concertgoers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.

The Presque Isle Parrothead Club 2007 Key West Fest will be held July 20-21 at Liberty Park on the bayfront in Erie PA. Admission and parking are FREE.

The Wattsburg Erie County Battle of the Bands and Music Festival will be held Friday evening July 27 and Saturday July 28 at the Erie County Fairgrounds.

Discover Presque Isle will be held July 27-29, 2007 at Presque Isle State Park. No matter what your age or interests, there is something for everyone. Admission and parking are FREE.

The Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul will play a concert at Jerry Uht Park in Erie, PA on July 31 as part of “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Triple Play Ballpark Tour.” Tickets go on sale June 2 at 10 am. Tickets can be purchased at the SeaWolves box office at Jerry Uht Park and on SeaWolves.com. Children under 12 get in FREE with each paid adult ticket holder.

The Motorcycle, Car, Boat and Truck show called the Lake Erie Classic will be held August 3-5 at Erie International Airport, Tom Ridge Field.

The 15th Annual Erie Art Museum’s Blues and Jazz Festival, the largest jazz and blues event in the Erie region, is a 2 day Festival held August 4 and 5 at Frontier Park in Erie, Pa. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. A variety of festival fare will be available from local vendors and restaurants. Admission to all Festival events is free. Saturday August 4 - 12 pm One World Tribe with the UpRise African Drum and Dance Ensemble, 2 pm Familiar Spirit Band, 4 pm Geoff Achison, 6 pm Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, 8 pm Junior Brown Sunday August 5 - 12 pm Gem City Jazz Band, 2 pm Cats A Bear, 4 pm Babik, 6 pm Stew Cutler Trio, 8 pm Rashied Ali Quintet Ongoing: WQLN Kids Tent, Festival Fare, LEAF Arboretum Tours/Green Tag

Representatives of the waterfowl organizations, individual sportsmen and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, Aug 10, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Northwest Pennsylvania Duck Hunters Association, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2007-08 hunting seasons. The briefing will begin at 1 pm, in Room 112 of the Tom Ridge Education Center at Presque Isle State Park in Erie.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at July 9, 2007 7:09 AM

Comments

Posted by: phil at July 9, 2007 8:46 AM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments:

Please note that all comments submitted are subject to moderation and final approval by the post's author. Comments will be posted as soon as they are reviewed.