ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for January 1, 2008

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Erie PA News and Events for January 1, 2008

Posted by Dennis on January 1, 2008

Good story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the story of Joe Cavarretta of Erie, PA. His brother Thomas Cavarretta passed away from cancer at the early age of 45. Joe wanted to do something to honor the memory of his brother. He heard about the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) from a friend that donated a kidney to his own son. Joe Cavarretta decided to donate a kidney, not to a family member but just someone that needed one.
Todd Smith had needed a kidney for 18 years. Smith was spending 5 hours a day, every day, on dialysis. His health was deteriorating. Joe Cavarretta gave him a kidney and a new lease on life.
There isn’t enough people today willing to donate when they die by becoming an organ donor, and here’s a family man making a donation.
It’s a new year. Resolve to do something this year to help someone else. Maybe you don’t want to donate a kidney and maybe you don’t have the money to donate, but you can give to others. Donate blood through the Community Blood Bank. Or give your time. There are a ton or worthy organizations that want you help, that need your help.

The Danielle Bimber surrogacy case is STILL winding its way through the courts over 4 years after she gave birth to 3 boys. The Ohio Supreme Court sent the case back to the Summit County Common Pleas Court for further review. Bimber of Corry, PA was the surrogate mother of three children using an Ohio man’s sperm and an egg donated by a Texas woman. The multiple states has made the complex case even more complex. In the Pennsylvania courts, it was all about the custody of the children. In Ohio, it’s all about the money. Bimber gave birth and took them from Hamot Hospital in Erie, PA eight days after they were born in November of 2003. Bimber said that she did that because the sperm donor, James Flynn and his fiancee didn’t name the children or visit them for six days after seeing them when they were born. Flynn, a Cleveland State University professor, and his girlfriend have since gained custody of the children.

I’m stumped again. Someone asked me about the “Petticoat Junction” episode called But I’ve Never Been in Erie, PA. After plenty of digging, I still don’t know if it was random or why they choose Erie. The plot was that an industrialist, played by singer Rudy Vallee, registers at the Shady Rest and offers Uncle Joe a chance to make a fortune. The show originally aired December 14, 1969. The Season 7, Episode 14 was the 210 episode of the popular series.

The extra traffic today on I-79 and I-90 is for people driving to the NHL’s first outdoor game in the United States which takes place today at 1 pm as the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. Over 40,000 tickets to the game sold in under 30 minutes. The game is on NBC.

The Erie Runners Club New Year’s Day 5M Race takes place today, 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.

“Around The World with Disney” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse on Tuesday January 1 at 2 pm.

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.