ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Saturday December 1, 2007

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Erie PA News and Events for Saturday December 1, 2007

Posted by Dennis on December 1, 2007

The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership published the Interim Report on Activity, Findings, and Recommendations prepared by the Mayoral Advisory Group. A group of 40 business and community leaders volunteered their busy lives to give advise to the city to improve finances and avoid Act 47, distressed city status. The ink wasn’t even dry on the paper before city hall began criticizing the report. Elected officials and city workers have to get their rears in gear and make changes in a timely manner - NOW - or the state will come in and see that things are done differently.

Dr Jeremy D Brown was inaugurated the 16th President on Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on Friday. Dr Brown became President of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on July 1, succeeding Dr Frank G Pogue, who retired after serving at Edinboro’s helm for 11 years. The ceremony came just 15 days before the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Edinboro Academy - historic forerunner to the University - on Dec 15, 1857. Dr Brown and his wife, Rebeca Acuna, came to Edinboro from SUNY-Canton, where Dr Brown served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs since 2003. A native of Manchester, England, President Brown is a nuclear physicist who previously served in academic and administrative positions at Princeton and Yale Universities.
Dr Brown isn’t your average college president. A nuclear physicist who can quote lines from Monty Python movies. An avid sailor and squash player that jams out to Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix. Fluent in a number of languages and spends nights sleeping in student dorms.

John Mason of Mason Farms shared some fascinating tidbits on the business of farming at the recent Western Pennsylvania Vegetable and Berry Seminar held in Butler. Carol Ann Gregg wrote an interesting article on the seminar for Lancaster Farming. Mason, at the recommendation to his daughter-in-law, installed a camera in the parking lot to look over applicants as they come in for an interview. Great idea. He said one applicant said his reason for leaving his last job was that he didn’t want to work. A future elected official I presume. Mason will begin hiring for 2008 in January.

Retired Judge Jack Mandel will open and run the Nicholas Academic Center, a new tutoring and mentoring center in Santa Ana, CA. It will be funded by an annual $500,000 donation by Broadcom co-founder Henry T Nicholas III. Center directors will include Rosa Diaz, Rocio Chavez Bonilla and Hugo Gutierrez, who were all mentored by Mandel while students at Santa Ana High. The three also attended Mandel’s alma mater, Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.

Former Forsake The Flesh founder/guitarist, Steve Jacobson has moved from Sacramento, CA to Erie, PA. His new solo project is called Requiem for Oblivion.

Six Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) students have each been awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Advocates for the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (APOMA). The APOMA Scholarship was awarded to Jill Cheeseman, OMSIV; Nicolas Mead, OMSIV; Ian Humphreys, OMSIII; and Tameka Sisco, OMSIII, in recognition of their scholarship, leadership and citizenship. First-year medical students Carly Davis and Jessica DeSalvo received the APOMA KIN Scholarship, given to the son, daughter or grandchild of a POMA member who demonstrates scholarship, leadership and community service to the medical school.

The National Federation for the Blind, Erie County Chapter will hold their annual Christmas Party on Dec 16 at the Red Lobster. Please RSVP by email to Connie or by phone at 868-1122 by Dec 10.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic beat Erie Cathedral Prep 44-6 in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals. Today Erie Mercyhurst Prep plays Kane at 1 pm and Erie Strong Vincent faces Indian Valley at 7 pm. Both games take place at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Luca Caputi and Michael Swift each scored a goal and an assist to lead the Niagara IceDogs to a 6-4 win over the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played last night in front of 3,011 at the Tullio Arena in Erie. Zack Torquato, Justin Hodgman, Sean Jones and Ryan O’Reilly each collected a goal and an assist for the Otters, who are now winless in their last four (0-3-1-0) and 4-20-2-1 on the season. The Otters complete weekend action today when they face the Guelph Storm in a 7:30 pm game at the Tullio Arena. The first 2,500 fans into the game (18 and over) receive a scratch off card coupon courtesy of the PA Lottery.

The San Diego Padres named Duffy Dyer to the position of catching coordinator. Dyer served as manager for the Detroit Tigers Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves, for the 2005-06 seasons.

Swing of the Quad Cities have hired Stefanie Brown as the team’s Director of Community and Client Relations. Brown spent the 2007 season with the Jacksonville Suns following stints with the Erie Seawolves, Altoona Curve and State College Spikes.

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle is holding their 2nd annual Holiday Open House through Sun Dec 2. The The Nature Shop and Gallery has free gift wrapping available with purchase. Free ornament with a $35 purchase. And remember to register to win a “Giant” Plush Bear. Drawing to be held Friday, Dec 21. “Breakfast with Santa” will be held at the Sunset Cafe on Sat, Dec1 from 10 am - 1 pm. The cost will be $6.95 per person. To make reservations call 833-5843. Plus there will be a special holiday movie showing on the Big Green Screen on Sun Dec 2.

Join your friends at the Watson-Curtze Mansion for the 28th annual Victorian Holidays program Whimsical Wonderland. Included in this exhibit are professionally decorated evergreens, fireplace mantles, doorways, windows and other displays that will be open to the community. Whimsical Wonderland features more than ten different themed rooms; including a Seussical room decorated in all things Dr Seuss, a wintertime teddy bear picnic, a Victorian garden and much more. Participating decorators includes Traditions, the Carrie T Watson Garden Club and Melody Potratz of Potratz Garden Shop. Try you luck with the annual Chinese auction and win gift certificates from local eateries and specialty shops, or a holiday wreath. Victorian Holidays will run until December 30. Wednesday - Saturday 11 am - 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm. Museum Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $2 Children.

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre presents Fellini’s classic film “8 1/2” as it is transformed into this marvelous Tony Award-winning musical. “Nine” looks at a 1950’s film director and actor who can’t seem to shed his impulsive, philandering ways, and the devoted, beautiful women who together help him “grow up.” Shows will be held today, December 2, and December 6-8. All shows begin at 8 pm except for the December 2 show, which will begin at 3 pm. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. The number for the box office is (814) 871-7494.

Get the family together and take them to the Erie Playhouse for the heartwarming holiday musical “It’s a Wonderful Life”, through December 16. The lights will shine bright at the Erie Playhouse throughout the holiday season with the mounting of this classical seasonal tale. This new musical is a faithful adaptation of the 1946 film, which has entered into our national mythology, and has become as much a part of the Christmas holiday as the evergreen tree and fruitcake.

Every Saturday in December, Glass Growers Gallery will feature a local jeweler that you will able to meet. Today, Dec 1 it’s Janet Martinez who will be showing her creations 1-5 pm. Glass Growers holiday hours are Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 1-5 and Sun 12-4.

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.

The Erie Opera Theater Orchestra will perform ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’, an opera in English in one act with libretto and music by Gian-Carlo Menotti, on Sat Dec 1 at 7 pm in the Erie Central Tech Auditorium, 3325 Cherry St. It’s FREE and open to the public.

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.

Erie is full of artists, arts enthusiasts, and everyday people with hidden talents, and the Arts Council of Erie wants to showcase you. They’re looking for art lovers and artists of all kinds to represent our community as the faces of the 2008 United Arts Fund Drive. Have a unique craft or a story on how the arts impact your life? Want to see yourself in their ads? Then come to their casting session: Saturday, December 1 9:30-11:30 am at the Erie Playhouse, 13 W 10th St. Come to the casting session and get a free t-shirt. If you can’t make it, you can also join in by downloading a Casting Form and mailing it along with a photo to: Arts Council of Erie, 3 E 4th Street, Suite 10, Erie PA 16507. Photos will not be returned. For more information, call (814) 452-3427.

Santa Paws Secret Shop will be held Sunday Dec 2, 12:30-6 at the Sacred Heart Ushers Club, 712 W 26th St. FREE admission. Proceeds benefit animal rescue groups. Cash donations appreciated.

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.

The Gannon University Concert Band will present their annual Christmas Concert on Wednesday Dec 5 at 7:30 pm in the Gannon University Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 512 Peach St. It’s FREE and open to the public.

The monthly SAM and ED meeting will be held at 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 6 at the Plymouth Tavern. Renee Lamis and Alan Kugler of PA Futures will lead the meeting. FREE and open to the public. Food and drink are available for purchase.

Kirk Nesset, this year’s winner of the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Award for short fiction, will read and discuss his work at Mercyhurst College on Thursday, Dec 6, at 8 pm in Taylor Little Theatre. Nesset’s talk will unofficially kick off Mercyhurst’s annual Literary Festival. The 2008 edition, set for April, will bring to campus noted science fiction and fantasy writer Terry Bisson and Native American poet Joy Harjo and will culminate in the release of the student-produced Lumen literary magazine. A book-signing and reception will follow Nesset’s presentation. For information, contact Dr Kenneth Schiff, coordinator of the Mercyhurst Literary Festival, at (814) 824-2461.

On Friday, December 7, 2007, there will be a citizenship ceremony at the Erie Federal Courthouse at 10 am. All are welcome to attend.

Looking for an event to make this the most memorable holiday season ever? The Peppermint Ball is the area’s grandest event. The Peppermint Ball will be held Sat, Dec 8 from 7-10 pm. At the Peppermint Ball you will be treated like royalty and the elegance will make you feel as if you were a part of a fairy tale. Events of the evening include: Dancing, Competitions, and Fun for the whole family. Sponsored by the Erie Chapter of Demolay. Refreshments will be served. Family friendly environment - alcohol free. Music by Digital Thunder. Admission is $5 in advance or $6 at the door. Contact Ronald Cox at (814) 397-5859 for more info.

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.

The 25th annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie PA on Friday, January 18 and Saturday January 18, 2008 at the Gannon University Hammermill Center. St Edward of Lakewood Ohio, Rice High School of NYC, Saint Patrick of Elizabeth NJ and Erie Cathedral Prep are in the powerful field. Adult General Admission tickets are $7 and Student General Admission are tickets are $5. Reserved tickets are $12.50.

Dennis Weed