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Erie PA News and Events for Friday February 29, 2008
Posted by Dennis on February 29, 2008
Karma. Former state representative Linda Bebko-Jones and her then chief of staff, Mary Fiolek, were formally charged with forging nominating petitions and submitting the fraudulent forms to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Bebko-Jones and Fiolek are scheduled to surrender next week and appear before Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Joseph Solomon for preliminary arraignment. According to the grand jury, a number of individuals stated that they had never signed any petition and that the signatures listed were not their own. In one instance, an individual, who allegedly signed one of the petitions on March 3, 2006, had been deceased since April 15, 2000.
Bebko-Jones is charged with four counts of criminal conspiracy to commit false swearing, one count of forgery, one count of tampering with public records or information, one count of false swearing, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit tampering with public records or information, one count of false signatures and statements and nomination petitions and papers, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit false signatures and statements to nomination statements and papers, one count of nomination petitions; fraudulent filing and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit nomination petitions; fraudulent filing.
Fiolek is charged with four counts of false swearing, one count of forgery, one count of tampering with public records or information, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit tampering with public records or information, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit false swearing, one count of false signatures and statements and nomination petitions and papers, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit false signatures and statements to nomination statements and papers, one count of nomination petitions; fraudulent filing and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit nomination petitions; fraudulent filing.
Introducing the Erie Capacity-Building Collaborative (ECBC)! ECBC is the effort of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC), The Nonprofit Partnership, and Erie Weed and Seed to provide small grassroots/nonprofit organizations with the tools needed to build capacity. Through a series of FREE training workshops, competitive grants, and one-on-one technical assistance, the goal of ECBC is to strengthen community partners to better serve the residents of Erie County. ECBC will hold two public meetings on March 5 to discuss the collaboration and available training opportunities and explain grant application process. Applications for the capacity-building grants will be released at this meeting. If your organization is committed to developing its impact on the community, please plan to attend one of the following sessions: Hirt Auditorium at the Blasco Library in Erie at 10 am or the Girl Scouts of Penn Lakes Council in Edinboro at 5 pm. For more information, please contact GECAC at 814-459-4581, Ext 448.
The University of Wisconsin System is currently in the process of implementing a co-curricular transcript to compliment student’s current grade transcript. With businesses increasingly wanting more from students than just good grades, employers are seeking out applicants who succeed in applying experiences they have gained in the classroom. Schools around the country have already created the opportunity for the dual transcript, including Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Gannon Co-Curricular Transcript allows students to include leadership activities, professional or educational development, participation in organizations, and honors, awards, or recognition.
The Highmark Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, to support its nursing simulation lab, which was created to train nursing students at Penn State Behrend as well as health care professionals in the region. The grant will be disbursed over a three year period. The simulation lab at Penn State Behrend mirrors both hospital rooms and intensive care unit suites with a range of high-fidelity mannequins, including full-size male human patient simulators, a birthing mannequin to demonstrate a live birth, and a neonate simulator. The mannequins each have a heartbeat and pulse, can blink and breathe, and replicate human physiological responses to procedures such as CPR, intravenous medication, intubation, ventilation and catheterization. Penn State Behrend launched its associate degree in nursing in fall 2007 in response to the critical need for nurses in the region and Commonwealth. Penn State Behrend plans to graduate 50 new nurses each year from its program. In its first two years, the college has received more than 400 applications for its nursing program198 for 2006-07 and, to date, 206 for 2007-08. The college plans to expand the nursing program by offering the School of Nursing’s RN to BS curriculum, which Penn State Behrend hopes to launch this fall.
Gannon students will continue a university tradition by foregoing a traditional spring break and instead devoting the week to community service and volunteerism. Students will be making service trips to New Orleans, La., to New York City, and to Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. The university’s spring break is March 1-9. In New Orleans students and two staff members will spend the week helping to rebuild homes, damaged by Hurricane Katrina, through Catholic Charities Operation Helping Hands. In New York City students and one staff member will spend the week volunteering at a soup kitchen in the Bronx called Part of the Solution. At El Paso, Texas/Anthony, NM/Juarez, Mexico students and three staff members will focus primarily on border awareness and social justice, as opposed to community service. Gannon’s visit is sponsored by the Women’s Intercultural Center of Anthony, NM. The Center helps local women with economic development opportunities and has grown to include community education and outreach through classes in carpentry, sewing, computers, art, business, and marketing. It also provides tutoring related to English as a Second Language and environmentally friendly practices.
After two years in the making Lyons Den Productions and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania are proud to announce the local premiere of “schism”. Director John C Lyons will premiere his first feature length film on Thursday, April 17 at 8 pm at the Louis C. Cole Memorial Auditorium at Edinboro University. An encore screening will be held the following evening Friday, April 18 at 8 pm. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance and both screenings will be followed by a question and answer session with the filmmakers. Tickets are available now for both the premiere and encore screenings of “schism”. Order online at www.edinborotickets.com. For phone orders and questions please call (814) 732-1048. General admission tickets are $5 in advance and $7 the week of the screenings and at the door.
Happy 16th Birthday to Bobby. Bobby is a Leap Year baby and is really 64. There are about 200,000 leap year babies in the US. They are visiting Erie from Louisiana. They said the pressure is on Erie to show them a great time.
The Rev Timothy P Kesicki, a native of Erie PA, has named head of the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus (commonly known as the Jesuits). Rev Kesicki will be the 10th provincial superior of the Detroit Province, which governs Jesuits serving throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. He has been president of Cleveland St Ignatius High School since 2000.
Erie PA native Kerry Loftus has been working for VeriSign for the past 8 years and is currently director of product management. She contributes to the company blog Online Identity and Trust and mentioned Erie in a recent post.
The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League return to action this weekend with three games beginning with a pair of home contests against the Owen Sound Attack. Friday at 7:30 pm the Otters and Attack meet at the Tullio Arena. Saturday the two teams meet again at 7:30 pm in Erie. The first 1,000 fans into the game receive an autograph book courtesy of EMTA and fans dressed in a 70’s outfit will receive two tickets to a future Otters game.
The 2008 Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo will be held February 29 - March 2 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Hours: Noon-9 pm Friday, 10 am-8 pm Saturday and 10 am-5 pm Sunday.
Leap year propels the Lake Erie Ballet into a full year of events culminating the 50th anniversary of The Nutcracker. Kicking off this year long celebrations will be The Diamond Dance Party Friday, February 29 at Matthew’s Trattoria where a chance to win one half karat diamond from Dahlkemper’s Jewelry will take center stage. Entre acts include performances by the ballerinas of Lake Erie Ballet, dancing to the Duke Sherman Blues Band and enjoying Matthew’s fine wine and cuisine. “This will be an evening like no other,” says Executive Artistic Director Lesley Scalise, “We have big plans to move us toward an extraordinary anniversary season and I invite everyone to celebrate with us.” Event runs 8-11 pm with diamond prospecting at 10:30 pm. Tickets are $50.00 per person with all proceeds benefiting 50 years of the Nutcracker. For more information on these events and/or supporting the 50th Anniversary of The Nutcracker call 871-4356.
The Allegheny College Playshop Theatre continues its 2007-2008 season with Diana Son’s deeply moving play “Stop Kiss” under the direction of Assistant Professor of Theatre Mark Cosdon. “Stop Kiss” will be performed at 8 pm on Thursday, Feb 28, through Saturday, March 1, and at 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 2, in the Playshop Theatre, which is located in Arter Hall on the Allegheny College campus. Terri Clark, master’s degree of public health, will lead a discussion following Friday’s performance. “Stop Kiss” is a contemporary love story centered on two young women. Their deep, intimate friendship moves tentatively toward love, when suddenly the two are the victims of a particularly heinous hate crime. In the maelstrom of ensuing media scrutiny, the two women are forced to reevaluate their commitment to each other. “Stop Kiss” features a talented ensemble of Allegheny performers, including Lizzy Pecora (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Callie; Carrie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Sara; Shaun Hayden (Wilmette, Ill) as George; Brian Henderson (Wilmington, Del) as Peter; Katy Grant (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Mrs. Winsley/Nurse; and Corey O’Connor (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Detective Cole. Marianne Broome (Pittsburgh, Pa) serves as the production’s stage manager. Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Ellen E Jones designed sets and lights. The costume designer is Gail Kralj. Jim Sumerfield is the sound designer. Tickets for “Stop Kiss” are $7.50 for adults; $5 for non-Allegheny students, senior citizens and Allegheny employees. Admission is free for Allegheny students with identification. Audiences should note that “Stop Kiss” contains language and situations some may find offensive. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Playshop Theatre Box Office at (814) 332-3414.
Pink Martini will perform at the Mercyhust College Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 2 at 7 pm. After playing a packed house on their first visit, Pink Martini returns this time drawing heavily on music from their new CD, Hey Eugene! Tickets run $25 for students to $45 for Gold Members. For tickets, call the box office at (814) 824-3000.
Erie CareerLink is hosting Crystal Reports Training in both introductory and advanced sessions on March 3-6. Info and Registration form. Crystal Reports is a business intelligence application used to design and generate reports from a wide range of data sources. Several other applications, such as Microsoft Visual Studio, bundle an OEM version of Crystal Reports as a general purpose reporting tool. Crystal Reports became THE report writer when Microsoft released it with Visual Basic. Too late. Classes are filled.
The eMarketing Learning Center at eBizITPA is debuting a new training opportunity, The Comprehensive Guide to Successful Email Marketing, on March 6, 2008 from 8:30 am to 4 pm. The full-day course, to be held at the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA) Training Center, 5340 Fryling Road, Suite 201, Erie, Pa, is committed to establishing a comprehensive understanding of e-mail marketing and providing easy steps to implement these skills as part of an overall marketing strategy. E-mail marketing is an efficient way to communicate, interact and build relationships with customers. According to the Direct Marketing Association, the ROI on e-mail marketing in 2008 is expected to hit $45.65 per dollar, more than double the ROI of other mediums. Ninety percent of Internet users check their e-mail multiple times daily. When this opportunity for exposure is combined with a high ROI, it is easy to see the benefits of e-mail marketing. “Especially in a time of slow economic growth, e-mail marketing is one of the most effective and affordable ways to stretch your marketing dollar,” says instructor Cathy von Birgelen. Von Birgelen is a certified e-mail marketing professional and tech-savvy strategic marketing consultant with more than 12 years of experience in e-marketing and business development efforts. She has consulted with many regional and national clients including GE, Choice Hotels, Procter and Gamble, Holcombs, Howard Industries, Troyer Farms, Blair.com, Gannon University and Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Von Birgelen is the program manager of the eMarketing Learning Center at eBizITPA. This course is being offered at an introductory rate of $299. Registration can be completed online at www.ebizitpa.org or by calling (814) 898-6500. The Center for eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA), headquartered in Erie, Pa., is a statewide Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Initiative, designed to help Pennsylvania enterprises understand and use information technology and e-business tools.
The 2008 National Christian Invitational Basketball Tournament will be held at Family First Sports Park March 6-8. The preps and postgrads will play March 13-15.
The Aspen Ensemble, a mixed quintet of flute, piano and strings drawn from the famed Aspen Music Festival, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, March 6. Aspen Ensemble appears at the college as part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. The performance will begin at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building; admission is FREE and open to the public.
Melanie Rae Thon, once named a Best Young American Novelist by Granta magazine, will give a public reading from her works on Thursday, March 6, as part of the Creative Writer’s Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Thon will read at 6 pm in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel; a reception for her will begin at 4:30 pm in the chapel’s ground-floor meeting room. Both events are free and open to the public.
Erie County Judge Michael Dunlavey will speak about international and Middle Eastern relations on Thursday, March 6, at 7:30 pm, in Mercyhurst North East’s Alex Theater, 16 W Division St, North East. Dunlavey is a retired two-star general in the U.S. Army Reserve and a Vietnam veteran with 30 years of military intelligence experience. He was put in charge of global anti-terrorism operations by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, and oversaw interrogations at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay in Cuba from March to November 2002. The presentation is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.
The Erie Art Museum’s First Fridays program for preschool kids ages 3 to 6 is slated for Friday, March 7, 10-11 am at the Erie Art Museum, 411 State Street with activities inspired from the Museum’s Kids As Curators exhibit. First Fridays is a special program for 3-6 year olds and their families. Led by Museum staff, children and adults explore the art right in the galleries with storytelling, art-making and music. Cost is $5 per child and free for families with an Erie Art Museum family membership. Participants should meet at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 423 State Street. Space is limited. Please call ahead to reserve a place, (814) 459-5477.
Exhibition opening receptions and other gallery activities are planned for Gallery Night on Friday, March 7, 2008 from 7-10 pm at the Erie Art Museum, Glass Growers Gallery, Allen Stoneware Gallery, Kuhn’s Framing and Gift Gallery, Accents By The Bay, and Geary’s Studio 7 Gallery. EMTA will provide FREE Bayliner trolley transportation, courtesy of the galleries, from 7-10:30 pm. Service will be provided every 45-minutes; a route map is available in advance at all participating galleries. “We’ve been organizing a Gallery Night for one year now. And with each evening, we gain attendance - particularly from new patrons - and new galleries join us. This effort continues to be tremendously successful,” said John Vanco, director of the Erie Art Museum. Galleries will also offer $50 gift certificates as incentives for patrons visiting as many galleries as they can in the evening. Gallery Night is organized by the Erie Art Museum.
Get into the Irish spirit at the “Patti Sullivan and Friends Irish Concert,” Sunday, March 9, at 2 pm, in St Mary’s Chapel on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St., North East. Sullivan, MNE’s music director, will be joined by barbershop chorus Lake Erie Sound, the Rev Bill Sutherland, and Irish step dancers Rince Na Tiarna for an afternoon of entertainment. The performance is free and open to the public, and refreshments will follow. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.
Learn how to create Old World Easter eggs at “Easter Eggstravaganza!” a hands-on workshop, on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:30 pm, in Miller Hall 116 on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St, North East. Larry Kozlowski, director of student life at MNE, will share his expertise and talent in this ancient, beautiful art form. The workshop is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.
Gannon University’s Small Business Development Center is presenting the first annual WILD Conference on Thursday, March 13 from 8 am to 2 pm. The Conference will be held at the Ambassador Conference Center located at 7792 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509. The Conference will involve “women presenting to women” and focus on the areas of: wellness, leadership and personal development. It is anticipated that 150-300 women from Northwestern Pennsylvania will attend this unique event. The nationally prominent Keynote speakers highlighting the day are: Soni Dimond, Publicist, Speaker, author of Life’s A PITCH! As well as CEO of Soni Dimond Media; Jean Gatz, author of Mama Said There’d be Days Like This: Stories and Strategies for Less Stressed Life. The First Annual WILD Conference Chairwoman is Leah Elizabeth Humphries, Owner and President of the following companies: Apple Creative Group, Leah Elizabeth Jewelry, and My Heart Ties. In addition, women businesses will exhibit their products and services throughout the day and there will be several opportunities to learn from seminars, panelists and individual speakers focusing on the knowledge, passion and energy of women helping women. Limited seating. Tickets $75 (includes breakfast, lunch and gift bag). Make your reservations now. Call (814) 871-SBDC (7232) or toll-free (877) 258-6648.
Pennsylvania Sea Grant is sponsoring a FREE one and a half day workshop March 13-14 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie. The workshop will provide an update and overview of current ballast water policy, legislation and research as it applies to the Great Lakes. Scientists, legal experts, legislators, industry personnel and agency staff will discuss the current state of ballast water policy, pending legislation, proposed ballast water treatment methods and evaluating the current risk of introduction and spread of AIS to Great Lakes ports by foreign and domestic ships. For Registration form email Karla Kaczmarek, or Marti Martz.
The Presque Isle Parrothead Club will hold a St Patrick’s Day Bash on Saturday March 15 at the Cathedral Center, 160 West 11th Street. Free parking behind Cathedral Center on West 10th. Music 8-midnight by DJ Michael John. Doors open at 7 pm. Ticket price includes beer, pop and snacks. BYOB, if you don’t want beer. $10 advance ticket, $12 at door. Prize for best dressed St Patty’s Day Attire. Basket of Cheer, raffle for an iPod Touch, raffle - $5/chance, 50/50 and more. For tickets call Heidi
Grumblatt at 384-0741 or via email her at heidi_grum@yahoo.com.
CNN special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will speak “From the Special Investigations Unit” at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Tuesday, March 18. O’Brien appears as part of the college’s annual Speaker Series. Her presentation begins at 7:30 pm in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building; admission is FREE and open to the public.
As the signature event for Young Erie Professionals (yep!), the Generation-E Leadership Awards recognize young professionals who are paving the way to the future of Erie, Pennsylvania. Yep! has honored 34 individuals over the past three years who not only have chosen to live, work, and play in the Erie area, but who have made a lasting impact on our region. The 2008 winners will be recognized the evening of Friday, March 28 at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center.
Calling all artists and those who love art! A community art show, “Throughout The Spectrum: Exploring Autism Through Art,” will be sponsored by the Barber National Institute in commemoration of Autism Awareness Month. The show, which provides an exciting opportunity to come together to discover all aspects of autism through various forms of artistic expression, will be held April 4-9 at the Barber National Institute. Who can submit art work include: Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders who want to share their creative work; Family members or professionals whose lives are touched by autism; and Artists from the community who want to show their support for autism. Entries will be accepted on Friday, March 14 and Monday, March 17 from 9 am - 4 pm, and on Saturday, March 15 from 9 am - noon in the north lobby of the Barber National Institute. The art show will be open for public viewing in the north complex of the Barber National Institute on Friday, April 4, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7, 8, and 9, from 9 am - 4 pm, and on Sunday, April 6, from 1-4 pm. Admission is FREE - all are encouraged to attend! For more information about making a submission, including an entry form, please call (814) 878-5903, or click here.
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.
The charity bellydance event, “Shimmy for a Cure”, will be held May 31 at the Erie Playhouse in downtown Erie, PA. This event will benefit the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.
Head Coach John T Reilly of Gannon University will conduct three sessions of basketball camp this summer. Sessions will be held June 9-13, June 23-27 and August 4-8. His coaching staff, area high school coaches and several of his players will serve as camp instructors. The sessions are designed as teaching camps that emphasize the fundamentals of the game of basketball. The camps are for students in Grades 3-10.
There will be a Rust Belt Bloggers Summit on July 11-12 in Erie. People from Youngstown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other area cities will be attendance to discuss economic development issues in the region.
Posted by Dennis at February 29, 2008 7:05 AM
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