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Erie PA News and Events for Friday December 28, 2007

Erie PA native Rear Admiral (Retired) Charles August Curtze passed away at age 96. He attended public schools in Erie then went to the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He then received an appointment to the US Naval Academy and was part of the Class of 1933. After assignments on the USS New Mexico and USS Gamble he attended grad school at MIT, graduating with a Master of Science in Naval Construction. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the December 7th attack. On Dec 10, 1941, he was transferred to the Fourteenth Naval District for duty with the Manager of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in connection with post December 7th Battle Damage repairs. In July 1960 his selection for the rank of Rear Admiral was approved by the President and the same month, he was assigned as Commander San Francisco Naval Shipyard, with additional duty as Supervisor of Shipbuilding, US Navy, San Francisco Naval Shipyard and Assistant Industrial Manager. Rear Admiral Curtze retired on Dec 1, 1965.

The Country Inn and Suites on Oliver Road in Summit Township was evacuated when it was thought high levels of chlorine forced six people to the hospital. They then realized that no commercial pool in America still uses chlorine. It was the pool heater that caused a carbon monoxide build up.

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the discovery of a woman’s skeletal remains in the woods near the Somerset Industrial Park in Somerset, PA. The state police called in anthropologist Dr Dennis Dirkmaat, director of the Applied Forensic Sciences Department at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. Dirkmaat and a team of students removed what is believed to be a nearly complete skeleton. Every times bones are found within 500 miles of Erie, a call goes out to the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute. The school has built a great reputation and the students there receive great real world training.

Millcreek Township supervisors passed a no tax increase budget for 2008. Of course they did, it’s Millcreek where they have figured out how to hold down expenses and the 3 supervisors work together.

Edinboro University President Dr Jeremy D Brown announced the appointment of Kevin Cooke as the school’s first women’s lacrosse coach. Edinboro announced in November that women’s lacrosse would become the 15th intercollegiate sport offering, beginning competition in the spring of 2009. Cooke returns to northwestern Pennsylvania after a four year stay at Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to that Cooke served as the women’s lacrosse coach at Mercyhurst for five years, in addition to also handling the women’s field hockey coaching duties for five seasons.

The Kingston Frontenacs signed defenseman Zack Fenwick who was selected by the Club in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. Fenwick had started the year with the Mercyhurst College Lakers in Erie, Pennsylvania. Originally drafted in the 8th round, 154th overall in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection, Fenwick has played 4 games so far this season with the Lakers. And wouldn’t you know it. His first game is against the Erie Otters tonight at 7:30 pm when they travel to Kingston to meet the Frontenacs in the first game of a three-game road trip. A live webcast of the game will be available online for FREE.

Sameania Carey was sentenced to the mandatory life in prison term that came along with her first degree murder conviction for the shooting death in Pittsburgh of Termain ‘Butter’ Woodson. Carey once played for the Erie Illusion Women’s Football team.

Tickets will go on sale at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Wednesday, Jan 2 for the Mercyhurst/Gannon basketball games. This will be a sell out. The games will take place Saturday, Jan 5 in the MAC on the campus of Mercyhurst College. The women’s game begins at 6 pm and the men’s game follows at approximately 8 pm. Ticket sales will be open to the general public, as well as to Mercyhurst faculty, staff and students, on Wednesday from 9 am until 4 pm. They will be available during the same time Thursday and Friday until sold out. The cost of tickets is $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and $2 for students (children 5 and under are free). Mercyhurst College students showing an ID get one free ticket (and can purchase up to four additional tickets) and individuals showing a President’s Card receive two free tickets (and can purchase up to four additional tickets). Individuals are limited to purchasing a maximum of four tickets. Student ID’s and President’s Cards will NOT be honored at the door.

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.

The 34th annual Porreco Cup (tournament notes) takes place at the Gannon University Hammermill Center Sat Dec 29 and Sun Dec 30. On Sat at 6 pm Edinboro faces Bowie State and at 8 pm Gannon takes on Seton Hill.

The RockHouse Arts Foundation is having a fundraiser Saturday Dec 29 at 9 pm at the Docksider in Erie at 1015 State St. The Jungle, RockHouse Band, Bill Burke and Colorado Drive will be performing. $5 min donation at the door. Proceeds will be used to purchase instruments and educational materials for The Neighborhood Art House and Sarah Reed Children’s Center of Erie. Silent auction with autographed items from Keller Williams, Maroon 5, Rolling Stones, KORN, Phish and more.

“Around The World with Disney” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse on Monday December 31 at 7:30 and Tuesday January 1 at 2 pm.

Presque Isle Parrothead Club is sponsoring a New Year’s Eve party at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center called ‘Flip Flops to Formal’. The event is open to all 21 years of age and older. Cost is $80 per person which includes drinks, food and music by Key West Express. You can order by phone at (814) 452-4857 or purchase them at the Tullio Arena box office.

The Erie Runners Club New Year’s Day 5M Race takes place Tuesday Jan 1 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Day of race signup and packet pickup for pre-registered runners will begin at 9 am in the Rotary Pavillion near the Waterworks area.

After a two-year hiatus, Vienna in Erie returns to the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, January 1 at 3 pm. Once again, Maestro Frank Collura will conduct a 65 member Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony in an elegant program of Viennese waltzes, gallops and polkas that have delighted audiences for years. Make this grand and lively concert part of your family tradition. And, of course, enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne at intermission. To order tickets, call the box office at (814) 824-3000.

Cross-Country Skiing 101 will be held Saturday, January 5 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Weather permitting, meet at the cross-country ski concession to check out cross-country skiing. Get basic technique and skills for this exhilarating sport. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE. Rental fee only. Registration appreciated, (814) 833-7424.

For beginners and more experienced skiers wanting to know more about the winter world around them, enjoy Guided Cross-Country Skiing on Saturday, January 5 at 1 pm at Presque Isle State Park. If there is no sufficient snow, a hike will take place instead. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE, rental fee only. Meet at the cross-country ski concession.

There will be a Snowshoe Building Workshop on Saturday, January 5 at 9 am to 3 pm at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle. Build your own snowshoes - great to use, hang on the wall, or pass along for generations. $155 fee, registration required, call (814) 833-7424.

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.

Daniel S Mead, president of Verizon Services Corp, will discuss how creation of a centralized business services unit saved the telecommunications giant $562 million in one year during an upcoming presentation for the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Mead, a Warren native and member of the college’s Council of Fellows, will speak at 6 pm on Tuesday, January 22, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Admission to his talk is free and open to the public.

The 14th annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Women’s and Girl’s Hockey Tournament will be held in Erie February 8-10, 2008. Admission is FREE to all games. About 1,000 young ladies plus family and friends will be in town for the weekend. Hotel rooms will be hard to come by and expect delays at restaurants. Who was Sarah Backstrom? She was a feisty red headed defensewoman who gave all off her love of the game and passion to play it to the Erie Lady Lions. Sarah fought every battle to the end, with passion and determination. The Erie Lady Lions lost Sarah to Leukemia but have never lost her spirit.

The Association of Program Members (APM) of General Electric Transportation in Erie PA announced that it will be sponsoring the 13th Annual Winter Wishes Benefit Gala for the Foundation of Western Pennsylvania on February 16, 2008. Each year, the members of APM reach out to the community to collect donations for the silent auctions, live auctions and raffles that are held at the event. They also solicit “table sponsors” from local businesses. As a table sponsor, the business’ name appears on the centerpiece showing their support for this wonderful event as well as in any promotional materials that they put together for the function. The money raised with the auctioned items donated by local businesses will help provide funding for Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Community support of this event is recognition of the importance of this cause are greatly appreciated. Along with your assistance, GE will be able to make an impact on the day-to-day life of children whose lives are threatened.

The GE (NYSE: GE) 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on April 23, 2008 in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at December 28, 2007 7:02 AM

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