ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday September 11, 2007

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Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday September 11, 2007

Posted by Dennis on September 11, 2007

Today is the 6th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Never forget. Hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Another plane crashed at Shanksville, PA when passengers and crew fought back.
A Freedom Walk will be held this morning at Wesleyville Memorial Park. Registration begins at 8 pm with the walk starting at 8:46 am, the time the attacks began. The cost is $5 with money going toward Soldiers’ Angels to provide our military with care boxes and letters.

Anne Ryan, a Sophomore at Penn, died on Sunday of meningococcal meningitis. Ryan was a graduate of Erie Mercyhurst Prep. Penn required all Freshman to have a meningococcal vaccine but it only protects against against four of the five types. Tests are being done to determine the strain Ryan contracted.

The Certo Group is out as operator of the restaurant at Erie International Airport. Kathy Eisenman who was the manger for Certo in Erie has taken over as the new owner.

The Community Blood Bank of NW PA is encouraging people to come and donate as soon as they can as the summer shortage lingers on. Sunday night saw several terrible accidents locally, and with the blood supply already seriously low, lives are put at risk. Six years ago the Community Blood Bank saw a huge outpouring of support as over 1500 people donated blood in the three days following the 9-11 attacks in 2001. Every year since then the CBB has struggled with a blood shortage on the anniversary of those attacks. “If you are going to pick a week to come help this is the week,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing and Community Relations at the Community Blood Bank. “Please do you part by coming back to give blood.” All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9 am -12:30 pm.

Mercyhurst North East (MNE) is among 11 Pennsylvania colleges and universities to share more than a half-million dollars for nursing education programs from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF). PHEF officials and state Senator Jane Earll presented Mercyhurst College President Dr Thomas J Gamble with a $50,000 check, the first of three installments totaling $150,000.

Penn State University has recognized University alumnus and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees Edward P “Ted” Junker III for his contributions to the University’s fund-raising initiatives. Junker, an Erie resident for more than 40 years, has been awarded the Fundraising Volunteer of the Year award for 2007 and will be recognized locally on Tuesday. Junker has played a leadership role in many University-wide fundraising efforts. He and his late wife, Barbara, have been especially supportive of Penn State Behrend. The college’s Junker Center is named in recognition of their generosity. A 1959 graduate of Penn State, Junker retired in 1997 as vice chairman of PNC Bank Corp, having served as chairman and chief executive officer of Marine Bank (predecessor to PNC Bank) in Erie.

Former US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge of Erie has been hired as a consultant by IDO Security for their footwear weapons detection system called MagShoe. The MagShoe device detects metallic objects that could be concealed on or in footwear.

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania announced a $115 million plan to build and renovate dorms and build a new dining facility.

Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $42,036,674 and payouts of $38,460,957 for the week of September 3-9.

ComPsych recently announced the gold winners of the third-annual Health at Work Award and Erie Insurance won in the category for 2,501 - 10,000 employees. ComPsych is the world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs and worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, work-life, wellness and crisis intervention services).

Emil Susol and Son recently lanched their new web site. Emil Susol and Son are specialists offering remodeling services for sunrooms, basements, and bathrooms.

Gina and Richard Z had a baby boy, Richard Z Jr, who was born on September 8 at 1:24 am.

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League announced that they will be retiring the jersey number of Brad Boyes during a special ceremony to be held Saturday, January 26, 2008 when the Sarnia Sting visit the Tullio Arena for a 7:30 pm contest. Boyes owns nearly every offensive record in Otters history. He currently plays for the St Louis Blues. The Otters (1-0-1 in exhibition action) complete their pre-season schedule this Friday and Saturday at the Tullio Arena in games against the Plymouth Whalers and Niagara IceDogs, respectively. Tickets for the 7:30 pm games are $11.50 for adults and $9.50 for children (12 and under) and are available at the Erie Civic Center Box Office and all Erie-area TicketMaster locations.

The University at Buffalo moved Mario Henry (Erie Strong Vincent) from DB to running back. Smart move. In 17 carries Henry had 125 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo’s 42-7 win at Temple.

The monthly Erie Blogger Get Together will be held today, Tuesday September 11 at 7 pm at the Cornerstone Bar and Grill, 38th and Pine Ave. It’s a great time for bloggers and non-bloggers to hang out, talk about technology, politics, movies and more.

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 Erie Irish Festival takes place September 14-16 at Rainbow Gardens on the grounds of Waldameer Amusement Park and Water World.

St John’s the Evangelist Annual Parish Festival will be held on Saturday, September 15 from Noon until 7 PM at the St John’s Parish Center, 1001 Main Street in Girard. Car Cruise-in, Kid s Korner, Chinese Auction, Raffles and much, much more. Delicious barbecue chicken and spare ribs dinners are available along with live music and a traveling zoo from the Erie Zoo. Please contact Linda Tolhurst at 474-3033 for additional information.

The Northwest PA Truck and Tractor Pullers on Sept 15th in Waterford. Classes will be a Street Diesel, “Open” or twins diesel, Antique V8 tractors and the Hot Farm tractors.

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 Allegheny College Humanities Lecture Series for 2007-2008 opens this month with a presentation on Monday, Sept 17 at 7:30 pm in Room 301 of the Campus Center. Professor of Environmental Science Eric Pallant and Associate Professor of Economics Steve Onyeiwu will present “Gold Coast or Charcoal Kingdom: Debunking the Myth of Ghana’s Success Story.”

A Gannon University faculty member will discuss the presidency of James Madison during the university’s annual observance of Constitution Day. The lecture, to be given by David A Nordquest, PhD, assistant professor of philosophy at Gannon, will begin at 11:15 am Monday, Sept 17. It is free and open to the public and will be held in room 1200 of the Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach Street. Nordquest’s presentation is titled, “James Madison and the American Constitution.” Nordquest extensively has studied newer research that sheds more light on Madison - the fourth president of the United States and regarded as the “Father of the Constitution” - as an important political philosopher of his time.

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.

Thoroughly Modern Millie will be performed at the Erie Playhouse September 20 - October 7. Curtain times are Wed - Sat at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Douglas Bruce, principal organist at St Franz Xaver Church in Munchenstein, Switzerland, will give an organ recital as part of the Smith Music Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Tuesday, Sept 25. Bruce’s performance, which begins at noon, is free and open to the public and will take place in the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel.

Last year, Mercyhurst College became home to a life-size specimen of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull, thanks to the donation of a museum-quality natural history collection of casts and fossils. This year, Mercyhurst will go one better when it unveils a set of shark jaws so enormous that people can lock arms and walk through together. Mercyhurst College’s second annual natural history exhibit runs Sept 27 to Oct 17 at Cummings Gallery in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held Thursday, Sept 27, from 5 to 7 pm. Because of the anticipated public appeal, normal gallery hours are being extended for the exhibit’s duration. They are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 2 to 7 pm, except Thursdays, 2 to 9 pm; also Sundays from 2 to 5 pm. Special tours for school students are available by contacting the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute at 824-2545.

The Great Lakes Independent Film Festival takes place September 27-30 at the Roadhouse Theatre in Erie PA.

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.

In conjunction with Alumni Reunion 2007, Penn State Behrend Finance graduates are invited back to campus for a Finance Alumni Reception hosted by Sam and Irene Black School of Business faculty. Greg Filbeck, the Finance program chair, and Finance faculty Brian Boscaljon, Jessica Zhou, and Kay Johnson have planned an informal reception for Finance alumni and their guests from 10:00 until 11:30 am on Saturday, September 29. The reception is part of the college’s Alumni Reunion and concurrent Parents & Families Weekend, and will be held in the cafe of the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). Attendance reservations should be made by Saturday, September 15.

Dennis Weed