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Erie PA News and Events for Thanksgiving, Thursday November 22, 2007

Craig Sundberg and his wife Megan of Erie have just found out their young 3 year old son Jack has an inoperable brain tumor. Jack has Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), also known as grade 4 astrocytoma, which is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor, accounting for 52 percent of all primary brain tumor cases and 20 percent of all intracranial tumors. They are taking Jack to Pittsburgh daily for Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, and Physical and Occupational Rehabilitation, but the prognosis is very poor. The Sundberg’s daughter Lauree has put up a web site with all the info called Jack’s Battle. Craig Sundberg works at Heatron, the world’s largest producer of custom ELPOR (electronic porcelain) ceramic coated metal circuit boards. The response in the Erie community and at Heatron has been tremendous. Craigs fellow employees at Heatron in Erie as well as at the Kansas headquarters have raised money for expenses and have donated their own paid days off for Craig to use. The Production Supervisor even arranged Thanksgiving dinner for Craig and family. You can help out the family too. There are a number of fundraising events scheduled. The next being Bake Sales the first two weeks of December at college campuses in the area - Edinboro, Behrend, Gannon, and Mercyhurst.

Some idiot hit a telephone pole in the McKinley Park area, near 21st and McKinley Ave, and knocked out power to part of Erie’s eastside around 1:30 am. I’m developing a callous on my finger from resetting my clocks. The electrical grid in Bagdad has more uptime than Penelec has in Erie.

Erie City Council passed a new LERTA plan (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance) yesterday by a vote of 6-1. It went into effect immediately. Home additions would be given a 90 percent tax break for 5 years. Businesses would be given a 50 percent tax break for 10 years for new building plus 10-40 percent more depending on job creation. New residential construction in ‘targeted areas’ would receive a 90 percent break for 5 years, 70 percent in year 6, 50 percent in year 7, 33 percent in year 8, 25 percent in year 9 and 10 percent in year 10. Residences not in targeted area get a 75 percent tax cut for the first 5 years, 50 percent in year 6 and 25 percent in the 7th and final year.
Mayor Sinnott present his 2008 budget to council. It calls for no tax increase. The city, the county and the school board take turns raising taxes and this year it’s the county’s turn.

Kyrie O’Connor, deputy managing editor of the Houston Chronicle, was in Erie recently. O’Connor stopped on upper Peach Street, the Erie PA area of the “soulless restaurant chains.” She wrote that PennDOT could do a better job of clearing I-90 of “deer carcasses and deer guts smearing the Interstate.” Her blog is called MeMo.

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League announced last night that they have completed a pair of trades. The Otters acquired second year forward Sean Jones, a fourth round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection and a third round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in exchange for Anthony Peluso. Jones, a former second round pick of the Greyhounds, had two goals and two assists in 21 games for the Sault this season. In 71 OHL games the 17 year-old Newmarket, Ontario native has seven goals and five assists for 12 points. In a separate deal, Erie also acquired second year defenseman Paul Cianfrini from the Belleville Bulls in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. Cianfrini had one assist in 20 games this season. The 18 year-old Dundas, Ontario native has one goal and six assists in 77 career OHL games. Both Jones and Cianfrini are expected to be in the line-up for the Otters tonight when they take on the Belleville Bulls in the annual Thanksgiving Day Game at 7:30 pm at the Tullio Arena.

A record number of participants are expected to “pay it forward” this Thursday at the annual Erie Runners Club Turkey Trot run/walk, working off their turkey dinner before they even eat it. Currently, there are more than 1,500 people registered to participate in the Turkey Trot in the 5K ( 3.1 mile) or 10K (6.21 mile) event. “With mild weather forecast for Thursday, we’re definitely on target to break last year’s record attendance of 1,870 people,” said Dave Comi, Turkey Trot race director who noted that the Turkey Trot has increased in attendance every year for the past 10 years. “We’re shooting for 2,000 people this year.” The Thanksgiving morning run has become a family tradition in the Erie area with three and four generations of families participating together. “We have people from more than 30 different states coming home to participate,” Comi said. Not only do participants have quality family time and burn off a few hundred calories, but they also help others in need as proceeds from the Turkey Trot are shared with local charities. The Turkey Trot kicks of at 9 am on Thursday at Presque Isle State Park, Beach 1. Late registration is available at the Erie Community Blood Bank on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 pm and on race-day morning at Beach 1 beginning at 7:30 am.

The Erie Otters (3-17-1-1) face the Belleville Bulls (14-5-1-1) in the traditional Thanksgiving Day Game at 7:30 pm at the Tullio Arena. The Box Office will open at 5 pm and now Visa, MasterCard and Discover (as well as cash) right up until game time. Purchase tickets on-line at TicketMaster.com and select the TicketFast option to print from home and avoid game night ticket lines.

Gannon Hosts the 24th annual Gary Miller Classic this weekend. On Friday, Slippery Rock faces Point Park at 6 pm and Gannon takes on Roberts Wesleyan at 8 pm. Tickets will be available at the door.

Glass Growers Gallery announced its holiday artists’ exhibit. “Muse, Memory, Magic” the collage art of Misty Mawn and the chic jewelry of Sara Welte will be on display and for sale from November 23 to January 8. The public is invited to meet the artists on Saturday November 24 from 2 to 5 pm.

The Erie Central High School Class of 1997 Reunion is holding their 10 year reunion on Saturday, November 24 at the Cornerstone Bar and Grill, 809 East 38th St.

The Winter Wonderland Art and Craft Show will be held at the Warner Theatre in Erie on Sat Nov 24, 10-5 and Sun Nov 25, noon-5. Holiday gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Free, guided theater tours, chinese auction, pictures with Santa, refreshments, free parking. Adults $3, Seniors $2. Save $1 off admission with a food donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania.

Join both the Gem City Bands - the Gem City Concert Band and the Gem City Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, November 24 at the 2007 Saint Vincent Auxiliary’s Festival of Trees at the Ambassador Conference Center on upper Peach Street. The Concert Band will perform from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. and the Jazz Ensemble will perform from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The performances are open to the public and the cost of admission to this year’s Festival of Trees is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 3-12. There will be 50 professionally decorated trees on display, and the Festival will also feature a Christmas Marketplace.

The Erie Broadway Series presents Annie at the Warner Theatre on Tues, Nov 27 at 7 pm.

The Erie County Technical School (ECTS) is holding an Open House on Wednesday, November 28 from 6:30-8:30. As your son or daughter enters high school, the Erie County Technical School can lead to a variety of career pathways including college. ECTS has over 70 articulation agreements with colleges and universities offering college credit for students that complete one of our 16 technical programs.Visit the Open House and check out the career choices available at ECTS. ECTS is located at 8500 Oliver Road Erie, PA 16509. Contact them at (814) 464-8600.

The Mark Steensland film “Peekers” will premiere on Thursday November 29, in REDC Room 180 REDC, the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center, on the campus of Penn State Behrend. Based off Kealan Patrick Burke’s story, the approximately 10-minute short-film “Peekers” is one that quite literally seeks to “play” with your mind. Steensland workws with many other talented individuals to produce this film locally in Erie, PA on October 20 and 21. “Peekers” starts at 8:15 pm; Steensland’s earlier films, “Sucker,” “Lovecraft’s Pillow,” and “Dead@17” will be shown at 7:30 pm.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy has scheduled an On Campus Day on November 29, 3-5 pm, to provide opportunities for prospective students to tour the campus facilities and learn about the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. It includes a tour of the facility, a Pharmacy Compounding and Dispensing demonstration, an opportunity to meet with current students and faculty, an overview of the LECOM Doctor of Pharmacy programs and information on the admissions process and financial aid.

European and African tradition meet in the annual holiday performance by the Penn State Behrend Concert Choir and Chamber Choir. The concert takes place at 8 pm Friday, Nov 30, in the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for Penn State Behrend students, faculty and staff. They can be purchased at the Reed Union Building information desk and at the door.

Celebrate the Christmas season by visiting Santa Claus himself at the Experience Erie Children’s Museum. Enjoy a picnic breakfast, singing, a puppet show, and time for the children to make gifts for their loved ones. Picnic Breakfast with Santa Giftmaking Workshop takes place Saturdays, 9-11 am, Dec 1, 8, 15 and 22. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $8, $6 for members and free for kids under 2.

Erie’s Sixth annual TubaChristmas Concert will take place on Saturday, December 1, in the McGarvey Commons at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The performance begins at 1:30 pm and is FREE and open to the public. As its name implies, Tuba Christmas Erie 2007 is songs of the season interpreted by a choir of Tuba, Euphonium and Baritone performers. All student, amateur, and professional musicians are invited to join the concert choir; registration is 8:30-9:30 am in the Reed Union Building, Wintergarden Area; rehearsal will be from 9:30 until 11:45 that morning. Performer’s fee is $8 and includes registration, commemorative button, and a barbecue lunch.

Family First Sports Park is holding a FREE Youth Football Clinic for kids 7-13 on Saturday, Dec 1 from 9 am - 12 noon. The clinic is hosted by the Mercyhurst College Football Program and Head Coach, Marty Schaetzle. Participants will learn fundamentals as well as individual positions of the game. Register online here. For more information, please contact Mat Carpinello by e-mail or at
(814) 866-5425 ext. 247.

The Gannon University Social Work Club Christmas Dinner and Wellness Fair will be held in the university’s Hammermill Center, Peach Street and South Park Row, on Sunday, Dec 2. The event is FREE and open to the public. Doors will open at 10 am, and meals will be served starting at 11:15 am. Santa will arrive at 12:15 pm to meet with the children on hand and pass out gifts. The Dinner and Wellness Fair provide a full turkey dinner, Christmas presents, and clothing. In addition, representatives from local agencies and organizations will be on hand to provide attendees information on housing and human services as well as important health screenings. Last year organizers served nearly 800 meals. The university’s Student Government Association (SGA) helps fund the event. In addition, the dinner has been well supported by the local community. Gifts for Kids and Erie Insurance are among the event’s many contributors. Again, the event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, contact the Gannon University Social Work program at (814) 871-7263.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy will hold their annual Recruitment Open House on Sunday, December 2, 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Over 500 eighth graders apply for approximately 225 freshman openings making admission harder than many colleges. Admission requirements include a minimum grade point average of 3.0, national standardized test scores at the 75th percentile or above, and two teacher recommendations. Please visit the Applying section of their site to learn more about applying to NW PA Collegiate Academy.

Family First Sports Park is in the process of making youth football more than just a seasonal sport. This year they are introducing a Winter Indoor Tackle Football League. The league will focus its emphasis on the basic fundamentals of football rather than the competitive nature of the sport. “We are very excited to start an instructional program during the off season, a place for youth to focus more attention to their individual skill,” said Mat Carpinello. The league is open to children ages 7-13 and will start on Dec 10. For more information, please contact Mat Carpinello by e-mail or call him at (814) 866-5425 ext. 247. You can register online here.

The Erie IT Network’s next Lunch’n Learn tackles the complexities of Blackberry Integration. It will be held on Thursday Dec 13, 11:30-1:00, at the Ambassador Banquet and Conferece Center, 7792 Peach Street in Erie. Data phones and PDAs are gaining prevelance in today’s workplace. More and more executives, sales agents and IT professionals are using hand held wireless devices to monitor servers, check emails and manage contacts. The speakers are with Research In Motion (RIM), the group that brought you the Blackberry. Join them for a technical seminar as they discuss the Blackberry Enterprise solution, including a look at the advanced security features inherent in the server software, as well as the framework used to deploy mobile applications. Register now, by clicking HERE. Or contact Karen at karen.kimet@technwpa.org or call (814) 451-1174.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at November 22, 2007 8:05 AM

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