ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for New Years Eve, Monday December 31, 2007

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Erie PA News and Events for New Years Eve, Monday December 31, 2007

Posted by Dennis on December 31, 2007

Residents of Boston might want to consider moving to Erie for the weather. Boston will end December with 8 more inches of snow than Erie. However, we’re due for lake effect snow on Wednesday and Thursday before temps rebound and the snow melts.

It’s going to be a couple days before the final figures are in but it appears that real estate prices in the Erie area for 2007 are going to come close to being unchanged from 2006. In a normal year you would expect an increase of about 3 percent just to keep up with inflation so considering the credit meltdown, it’s pretty much a win for our area.

Today marks 5 years that I’ve kept a daily news and events blog about the Erie area. Thanks to the readers, people kind enough to submit events and news content and tipsters. If I had one wish it would be that more organizations and businesses would produce press releases. Press releases are THE way to get your news out. They’re easy and quick to do. Internet distribution is FREE and reaches a huge amount of people.

Gannon University captured its 18th Porreco Cup Championship in the 34 year history of the tournament, beating Bowie State University 81-68. Vince Mosley paced Gannon with 24 points and Pierre Howard along with Kyle Goldcamp added 18 and 16 points respectively for the Golden Knights. Gannon shot 27-of-43 from the floor (62.8 percent), 8-of-16 (50 percent) behind the three-point line and 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) free throws. Howard was named Porreco Cup MVP after scoring 41 points in two games, hitting 18-of-23 shots in two games. Mosley and Goldcamp also landed spots on the team. They were joined by Jason Ingram (Bowie State) and Joseph Jones (Edinboro).

Matthieu Methot scored twice to lead the Ottawa 67’s to a 4-0 win over the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played Sunday afternoon in front of 9,572 at the Ottawa Civic Center. The Otters dropped 8-24-2-1 in their third straight loss. The next Otters home game takes place Wednesday when the Guelph Storm visit the Tullio Arena in a 7:30 pm start.

The Edinboro wrestling team turned in a strong showing at the Southern Scuffle, placing second after back-to-back fourth place finishes the last two years. UNC Greensboro hosted the event at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. A total of 30 teams took part.

The United States team beat Russia 6-2 at the 2007 World Under 17 Challenge Trophy. Brandon Maxwell got the win in goal. Maxwell was a 2nd round (27th overall) draft pick by the Erie Otters in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection. Instead of joining the Otters he chose to play for the American Under 17 team in the US national team development program. Maxwell will NEVER play for the Otters as he has verbally committed to playing for Boston College. Does Maxwell have something against the OHL? No, his father is an assistant coach with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm. He just doesn’t want to play for the Otters.

“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.

Enjoy great food and friendship at the annual Radio Association of Erie Holiday Party which will be held on Friday January 11 at the Zem Zem Shrine Club at W 38th and Zuck Roads. Social Hour will start at 6 pm with dinner at 6:30 pm. The cost for the buffet dinner is $15 per person. The menu will consist of: Sausage with peppers and onions, Rigatoni with meat, Breaded Chicken, Garden Salad, Relish Tray, Green Beans, Scalloped Potato, Rolls and Butter, Cake and Coffee and Tea. For reservations contact Neil Shea (N3ZNP), (814) 474-2346.

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.