ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Sunday August 26, 2007

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Erie PA News and Events for Sunday August 26, 2007

Posted by Dennis on August 26, 2007

The Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and 46 other local tourism promotion agencies all across Pennsylvania are looking at a 12 percent decrease in state funding in 2008. Why? So Philadelphia and Pittsburgh can get more money. Philadelphia would get 11 percent more while Pittsburgh would get 37 percent more. To make matters worse, the state is asking the local visitors bureau to cut a check for 15 percent of their state funding back to the state for Pennsylvania Pursuits magazine and other state tourism marketing.

The Grande Mariner, a 183 ft ship that carries 100 passengers, will be arriving in Erie on Monday at 1 pm. The ship is owned by American Canadian Caribbean Line (ACCL), a Rhode Island-based casual small ship cruise line. The cruise is the 15-night Great American Waterways cruise that travels east-to-west and vice versa between Illinois and Rhode Island. This is the first ship to use the Erie - Western PA Port Authority Cruise Boat Terminal which was built in 2002. ACCL announced in its 2008 Cruise Schedule of the Great American Waterways tour the Grande Mariner will make 4 stops in Erie.

I got an email from my good buddy Paige who said that the situation with Erie Blogger Sk0t was discussed on a local talk radio program in Sacramento, California. This is an international story few in Erie seem to know about. Scott was told by his probation officer that if he wanted to use his computer he would have to switch to a Windows operating system from Ubuntu, a free Linux-based operating system, so they could monitor his online activity. Scott spent 5 months in federal prison, has 5 months of home confinement, followed by 2-3 years of supervised release (probation). He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and one count of criminal copyright infringement in violation of the Family Entertainment Copyright Act. His guilty plea stemmed from his involvement in the BitTorrent peer-to-peer (P2P) network previously known as Elite Torrents. This was the first criminal enforcement action against copyright infringement on a P2P network using BitTorrent technology.

The Radio Association of Erie announced on their blog that there will be a General Upgrade class which will begin on Tuesday, September 18, 6 pm at the Greater Erie Red Cross Chapter. Classes will be Tuesday and Fridays, 6 to 8 pm, Sept 18, 21, 25, 28 and Oct 2, 5 and 9, with the Gen Exam on Tuesday, Oct 16. If interested, please contact Dan Miller K3UFG ASAP at (814) 434-0798 (Nextel) (814) 464-3664 (C), dmiller@erieredcross.org.

The Erie SeaWolves and Bowie Baysox were suspended in the bottom of the third inning on Saturday night at Prince George’s Stadium. The ‘Wolves led the ballgame at the time of the rain delay 2-0. The teams will pick up the game in the bottom of the third inning and play a regular nine inning ballgame. The two squads will then play a seven inning ballgame immediately following the conclusion of the nine inning game. First pitch for the doubleheader has been set for 12:05 pm.

The Mercyhurst College football team allowed less than seven points for the first time in 10 years as the Lakers opened the 2007 season with a 21-6 non-conference victory over Kentucky State Saturday.

Georges St Pierre (14-2) beat Josh Koscheck (11-2) in UFC 74. Koscheck was a 4 time wresting All-American and won a national championship at Edinboro.

Ryan Garrity won the 29th annual South Florida PGA Section Championship on at McArthur Golf Club. Garrity is an Allegheny College grad.

The ‘Weird PI: Guided Bike Excursion’ takes place today, Sunday August 26 from 10:30 am to 1 pm. Did you know there are old gravestones on the peninsula? A caviar factory once operated here? A plant on the park can cause temporary blindness if mishandled? Discover these and more weird stories of Presque Isle State Park during this family-friendly bike around the park. Bring your own bike or rent from the Yellow Bike Concession. Rental fee only, no registration fee, it’s FREE. Meet at the Yellow Bike Concession.

The 123rd Erie County Fair opens today and runs through Saturday September 1. Enjoy food, contests, truck drags, tractor pulls, harness racing, music, and more.

Winds on the Lake, a professional wind and percussion ensemble, will present a FREE outdoor concert titled “Salute to America” at 3 pm on Sunday, Aug 26. Fittingly, the performance will take place in the gazebo of the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, which is located on Erie’s bayfront at 560 E Third St. In the event of rain, the concert will be held inside the facility. Winds on the Lake performs under the direction of Gary Viebranz, director of instrumental ensembles at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and Matthew Inkster, director of bands at West Virginia’s West Liberty State College. In addition to patriotic favorites, “Salute to America” will include a performance of Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and a special tribute to the armed forces.

The 19th Street Polish Falcons are hosting a Baked Chicken Dinner on Wednesday August 29 from 5-7:30 pm. Dinner includes salad, cheesy potatoes and vegetable. Cost is $5 at the door. Open to the public, you need not be a member. For more information call (814) 454-6752.

The 11th annual Erie German Heritage Festival will be held at the Shriner Club, 38th and Zuck, September 1-2.

Family First Sports Park is hosting the Challenge Cup soccer tournament September 1-2. The National Premier High School Challenge Cup will feature some of the top high school boys and girls teams in the nation. Every hotel room within 50 miles of Erie is booked that weekend.

Ladies, pull out those poodle skirts, bobby socks and saddle shoes and pull your hair into a ponytail. Guys, throw on your leather jacket and grease back your hair. The Roadhouse Theatre is going to turn back the clocks and rewind the years to the 1950’s. “Buddy Holly, The Day the Music Died” will be performed at the Roadhouse Theatre Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, September 7-22. The show stars Matty B and the Dirty Pickles. Admission: $8 (student), $10 (regular), $12 (riser) and $15 (VIP). The Box Office Phone number is (814) 456-5656.

The 7th annual triathlon on Presque Isle State Park will take place Saturday, September 8, 2007, the first Saturday after Labor Day. All segments of the triathlon…the swim, the bike and the run…will start, transition and finish at Beach 6. PI TRI 07 is open to individuals and 2-3 person relay teams.

The 9th annual Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park Festival of family fun and environmental learning will be held September 8, 10 am - 3 pm. From the children’s tree climb to horticulture presentations, there will be something for all to enjoy. The day includes children’s games and crafts; hands-on demonstrations; musical performances; an animal petting zoo; food and more. FREE admission.

The 2007 Erie Heritage Festival - “The Last Blast of Summer” - returns again as the Lake Erie Region’s popular community enrichment event. Erie’s Heritage Festival is a day-long performance venue of Americana and World music performed by musicians from the Erie and Southern Ontario regions. The event concludes with a summer Pops performance by the Erie Philharmonic. The finale of the Pops concert is a dramatic presentation of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever - complete with cannon fire, church bells, and fireworks. The event takes place September 8 at Liberty Park on the Erie Bayfront.

Where economic freedom rings, political freedom is sure to follow, says an economist who will speak next month at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The Sam and Irene Black School of Business will host Robert Lawson PhD, co-author of the annual Economic Freedom of the World report, for a lecture and question and answer session on Monday, Sept 10. Lawson’s presentation will take place at 5 pm in the lecture hall of the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). It is free and open to the public.

Would you, or someone you know, like to join a band? The Gem City Concert Band of Erie, PA, is seeking new members for the Fall 2007 season. The concert band, currently consisting of 45 members, is very versatile, playing music such as old overtures, show tunes, traditional concert band pieces, movie scores, and marches. The band presents a spring and fall concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church, as well as numerous other retirement homes and community performances throughout the year. Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:30 pm in the lower-level meeting room of St John’s Lutheran Church at 23rd and Peach Streets. Fall 2007 rehearsals begin September 11th. Interested musicians should contact the director, Betty McKinney, at 814-602-9247 for more information or visit on-line at www.GemCityBands.org. All instruments are welcomed. Membership is free!

The PA Department of General Services (DGS) is hosting a “Doing Business with the Commonwealth” workshop in Erie PA on September 12. Please contact Gayle Nuppnau at 412-442-5872 or gnuppnau@state.pa.us for details.

Indigenous Aztec dance and music is on the menu for the first performance in the 2007-08 Rhythms of Life cultural series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac ensemble will perform between noon and 1:45 pm on Wednesday, Sept 12, in Bruno’s Café, located on the second floor of the college’s Reed Union Building. The performance is free and open to the public, and a full menu of hot and cold lunch items will be available for purchase.

The Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission is sponsoring meetings with18 overseas trade representatives September 12-13 in Erie. One-on-one appointments on September 13 will run from 8 am - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm - 3 pm. The following overseas trade representatives will be available: Australia / New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China-Beijing, China-Shanghai, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore/ASEAN, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Vietnam. Click here for the registration form.

The Scions of Britain (the SOB’s), The British Motoring Group of Northwestern Pennsylvania, proudly presents the 15th annual All British Car Gathering, Sunday September 16, 2007 at the Waterford Square, Waterford, PA. 12 Noon to 4 PM. For more information contact Tom Lee - (814) 725-5992 or rthomaslee@aol.com.

The famed Cavani String Quartet returns to Erie in September to open the 18th season of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. Cavani String Quartet will present its free Logan Series public performance at noon on Wednesday, Sept 19, in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building.

The Erie Art Museum’s Contemporary Music Series will present violinist Diane Monroe in concert on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 at 8 pm at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 423 State Street. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested.

Mercyhurst Men’s Basketball Alumni are organizing an Alumni Basketball game for charity. The event is scheduled for September 29, 2007 at 7pm at the MAC. Come See some of your favorite Mercyhurst players from the past and some of the Mercyhurst stars of the future compete in 3-point contests and a dunk contest. All proceeds from the gate will benefit the Alheimer’s Association of Erie. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Players include Brent Swain, Keith Nies, Matt Thielker, Gerry Battle, and Dion Brown, Jason Ioppolo, and Jody Crymes.

The 2007 Wine Country Harvest Festival will be held in North East, PA September 28, 29 and 30.

Dennis Weed