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Erie PA News and Events for World Autism Day, Wednesday April 2, 2008

Posted by Dennis on April 2, 2008

US Senator Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday in Erie at Mercyhurt College. The Mercyhurst Athletic Center was packed for her one hour speech. The pro-life group People for Life picketed outside the main gates of the campus. Clinton discussed economic and health care issues.

A day earlier, Erie Roman Catholic Bishop Trautman said he was canceling his appearance at the Mercyhurst graduation as a result of the pro-choice candidate speaking at the Catholic school. Mercyhurst College wasn’t the first Catholic college that Clinton spoke at which drew criticism from Catholic officials. St Norbert College in Wisconsin and St Mary’s University Texas also allowed pro-choice Clinton speak on their campuses.

Hillary Clinton waited until she was on the tarmac of Erie International Airport, Tom Ridge Field, to let fly her (weak) April Fools joke on reporters. Clinton said that to choose the Democratic nominee, she was challenging B Hussein Obama to a bowl-off. Obama tossed a 37 last week. Clinton said her occasionally bowled at Camp David when her husband was President.

Canadian filmmaker Lucas Baiano was in Erie to get footage of Hillary Clinton for a planned documentary film. Baiano made a short promotional video for the Clinton campaign in December. Apparently that didn’t count as outsourcing to a foreign worker as he supports the candidate.


VisitErie, formerly the Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
VisitErie (formerly the Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) released the latest Erie County hotel tax figures. In February 2008, the hotel tax brought in $31,434 vs the February 2007 amount of $27,532, an increase of 14.2 percent. The fiscal year (July-June) to date figures show an increase of 14 percent. Of the 5 percent collected tax, VisitErie receives 1 percent and the Erie County Convention Center Authority receives the remaining 4 percent.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Erie County was 5.3 percent in February, down from 5.4 percent in January 2008. The number of people employed went up from 134,200 to 134,500 and the labor force grew 100 people from 142,000 to 142,100. Back in February 2007, the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent with 133,800 people employed with a labor force of 139,800. Jobs up 700 over last year and a growing work force. Great signs. A growing labor force is vitally important to long term growth in the area. The complete Pennsylvania unemployment data can be found here.


The Marx Toy Museum announced that they will close soon if they don’t get promises of $20,000 and volunteers to work at the museum. A poor location combined with non-existent marketing and fund raising has hurt the museum. Just opening the doors, having a phone number published and having a basic web site doesn’t guarantee success.

For the week of March 24-30, Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie reported wagers of $46,625,154 with payouts of $42,542,512.

Dan Desrochers from the Erie Community Blood Bank will be out of work for a couple of days with a respiratory infection. Interestingly, he’s under orders to watch 54 episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” on the Sci Fi Channel and ask that people donate blood. One pint of blood can help save up to 3 lives. All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Erie Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9am-12:30 pm. Photo ID required.

Beginning this summer, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will offer the Penn State School of Nursing’s RN to BS in nursing, which lets registered nurses take their third and fourth years of coursework to earn a baccalaureate degree. It is the college’s 33rd bachelor’s degree program. “The RN to BS allows us to complete the educational circle for those students enrolled in our associate degree in nursing program and reach out to current registered nurses,” Penn State Behrend Chancellor Jack Burke said. “After just one year, our associate degree program is already highly sought after­with more than 300 applications for 46 slots in the fall. We anticipate that the RN to BS will be equally attractive to prospective students.” According to Jo Anne Carrick, nursing program coordinator at Penn State Behrend, the completion program is tailored to adult learners who are working in the field as registered nurses and allows them to earn a BS in nursing on a full or part-time basis. “We will offer a blended format of in-class and online courses, with evening and weekend options available, to accommodate a range of student needs,” she said. Prospective students have two opportunities to learn more about Penn State Behrend’s RN to BS and associate degree in nursing programs, as well as tour its state-of-the-art simulation lab, at the college’s Admissions Open House on Saturday, April 5, or a Nursing Lab and Simulation Center Open House on Wednesday, May 7. For more information or to register, visit behrend.psu.edu/nursing online.

VX Corporation, specializing in CAD/CAM for plastic products and molds, will be demonstrating major productivity and machining quality enhancements to the QuickMill suite of milling tools at The Erie Tool Show, April 16-17 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Innovative Machining Automation and New SmoothFlow Machining Technology demonstrated The Erie Tool Show has a new emphasis aimed at area businesses seeking the equipment they need to compete in today’s advanced manufacturing arena. This makes it an ideal event for VX CAD/CAM to show the latest in milling technology and machining automation. VX will demonstrate how to capture and reuse machining strategies and how its new SmoothFlow technology is extending tool and machine life.

Vince Mosley of Gannon University announced he will not apply for a fifth year of eligibility and will go pro. Mosley capped his senior season by being named to the NABC All-Great Lakes Region first team, the Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region second team, and the All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division first team. He led Gannon in scoring (16.4) while ranking second in field goal percentage (56.1) and rebounding (6.5). The senior forward shot 56.1 percent (183-326) from the field, 42.1 percent (16-38) from three-point range, and 68.9 percent (111-161) from the free throw line.

April Fools Day may be a holiday for tomfoolery, but the outcome of Gannon baseball’s doubleheader at Indiana University of Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon is no joke. Gannon dropped its first game at Owen Dougherty Field 25-8, a result not too uncommon in recent years. However, Coach Nate Cocolin’s Golden Knights earned their fourth win of the season in impressive fashion. Gannon rallied in game two to split the twinbill with a 21-1 victory.

The Allegheny baseball team (4-9) erased a three-run, eighth-inning deficit to defeat Thiel College (10-7) by a score of 10-9.

A pair of first-inning rallies paved the way for an Allegheny (10-8, 2-0 NCAC) sweep of Oberlin College on Tuesday afternoon. The Gators won game one 11-2 and took game two by a score of 18-2 with each game being called after five innings.

The Gannon women’s lacrosse team jumped two spots and is ranked fifth in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Top 10 poll released Tuesday afternoon. The poll considered only matches played through Sunday, March 30 and did not reflect their 15-8 loss to Lock Haven.

Three Gannon University Golden Knights have been named to the 2007 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Men’s Water Polo All-Academic Team. Andy Baker (Erie, Pa/Cathedral Prep) and Paul Musille (Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak) landed a spot on the “Outstanding” team, the top group selected for student-athletes with grade-point averages between 3.71 and 4.0. John Krakowski (Erie, Pa/Cathedral Prep) was selected to the “Superior” team, reserved for student-athletes with GPAs between 3.4 and 3.71.

Four Mercyhurst men’s water polo athletes were recognized for their academic success Monday evening, as they were selected to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Academic Varsity team. Earning Outstanding honors were Alex Moggridge and Ryan Holt. Andrew Schonhoff received a Superior honor, and Andy Sekulski earned an Excellent honor.

Brady Sieber (Erie, PA/McDowell) of Johns Hopkins was named to the Collegiate Water Polo Association Men’s All-Academic Team.

Erie CareerLink is hosting a “Summer Jobs and Beyond” Employment Fair today, Wednesday April 2, from 11am - 4pm at 1309 French St in Erie. Participating Employers include Presque Isle Downs, Barber National Institute, West, Scott Enterprises Millcreek Community Hospital, Verizon, CA Curtze Food, Rehrig Pacific Company, Windsor Beach Technologies, Community HealthNet, Custom Engineering, Brevillier Village, Community Resources for Independence, Telatron and Emergycare. All are welcome!


Need a good laugh? Stand Up Against Hunger comedy night to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank will be held Wednesday, April 2nd at JR’s Last Laugh Comedy Club. Headliner for the show will be Mrs Hughes. A “YouTube” sensation, her act is punctuated with pithy observations on parenting, aging and family. The first time you see Mrs. Hughes you might think, “She could be my neighbor.” She’s just about the last person you would expect to see in a night club but be prepared to laugh. Well-known Erieites who will be sharing some of their own funny stories at “Stand Up Against Hunger” will be WICU12’s Julie Eisenman and Owner of Gohr’s Printing, Dave Chrzanowski. JR’s home emcee, Bill Rosenquest, will also be appearing along with Natalie Massing and MoJo McKay from Rocket 101. There will be one show at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $15.50 and advance reservations are requested. Call JR’s at 814-461-0911. One hundred percent of the ticket price is donated to Second Harvest.



Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counselor” will be performed at the Warner Theatre on Wednesday Apr 2 at 7:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the Civic Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets or at Ticketmaster.com.

Local landscape artist Brett Maloney will explore the creation of meaningful gardens at a workshop, “The Art of Fine Gardening: The Artist’s Approach,” on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:30 pm, in Miller 116 on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St, North East. Maloney, who has been a professional landscaper and gardener for more than 35 years, will provide personal insights, methods and experiences to illustrate how to approach gardening as an art rather than a science. The event is FREE and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

The Edinboro Film Series, in cooperation with The Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program, Eerie Horror Film Festival, Edinboro University Student Government Association, Cinemark, and Lyons Den Productions, is pleased to announce its event for spring 2008. A special advance screening “The Ruins” will be shown on Thursday April 3 at 8 pm at the Tinseltown Theater, 1910 Rotunda Drive in Erie. Tickets are FREE for EUP students and $5 for General Public. Tickets are available at EdinboroTickets.com.

Internationally known bioethicist Dr Stephen Post will visit Mercyhurst College on April 3 to discuss his most recent book, “Why Good Things Happen to Good People.” The book, written with science journalist Jill Niemark, is subtitled “The Exciting New Science That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life.” The presentation begins at 8:15 pm in Walker Recital Hall at Mercyhurst, and is free and open to the public.

Modern rockers Third Eye Blind bring their semi-charmed musical sensibilities and monster alternative hits to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Friday, April 4. Absentstar will be opening. The concert begins at 8 pm in the college’s Junker Center with an opening act to be announced. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets cost $20 for the public and $15 for Penn State Behrend students (two per ID) and can be purchased online, at the Reed Union Building main desk, or over the phone with a credit card by calling the Office of Student Activities, (814) 898-6171.

The ceremony renaming the Powell Avenue Bridge the Staff Sergeant Jeremy R Horton Memorial Bridge is scheduled for 10:30 am on Saturday April 5. SSG Horton died on May 21, 2004 near Al Iskandariyah, Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded. He was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

From the creator of “Buddy Holly: The Day The Music Died” and in association with the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art, the Great Lakes Film Association announces The Man In Black, The Johnny Cash Show. The Man In Black production was a labor of love and respect that will star local Erie celebrity Shannon Solo and was designed to celebrate the music and the man who is widely considered to be one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century. The Man In Black musical production will enjoy a short run with only eight performances with opening night being Friday April 4 at 8 pm to be followed by a reception and then continuing on Saturday April 5, Thursday April 10, Friday April 11, Saturday April 12, Thursday April 17, Friday April 18, and will close on Saturday April 19. The final performance will include a closing night party. Show times for each of the limited run performances will be 8pm with doors opening at 7:30 pm. Ticket prices will range from $10 to $15 depending on seating preference. Advance ticket sales and reservations will be available starting on Friday March 21st by visiting TheTheatre145.com or by calling (814) 879-0733 or 814-873-5069.

KaleidAScope, Inc, The Child and Family Guidance Center of Erie, the Northwestern Pennsylvania Autism Society (NWPA-ASA), and ARC of Erie County will be hosting the first annual Autism in Our Community event on April 5, 2008 at the Greene Township Building, 9333 Tate Rd in Erie. KaleidAScope, Inc is a local non-profit agency establishing services for individuals with High Functioning Autism / Asperger’s Syndrome from the ages of 15 to adulthood. Child and Family Guidance Center of Erie provides individual, group, and family therapy, specializing in families/children on the Autism Spectrum. NWPA-ASA is our local Erie chapter for the Autism Society of America and has made strides in the Erie community in establishing awareness of Autism Spectrum disorders. The Arc of Erie County is a large advocacy group that promotes community inclusion to citizens with disabilities. The focus of this event is to provide information about the goods and services available to families influenced by, and managing, autism in their lives. The event is funded by a grant from the NWPA-ASA. The event will be held from 12-4 pm. Each agency and organization will provide a table highlighting their services as related to autism. Presentations will occur by local providers every half hour beginning at 12:30 and ending at 3 pm. The event will conclude with networking opportunities for families with local providers, agencies, organizations. Light snacks and beverages will be provided, as well as opportunities for families to win gift baskets. There is no cost to families to attend this special day. For additional information and to RSVP, please contact: Jennifer Do 814-824-4515, ext 93.

The Erie Art Museum will offer a henna body art workshop on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 1-4 pm at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 20 East 5th Street. “We are so excited to offer the public an opportunity to learn about this ancient temporary tattoo tradition. Erie’s best henna practitioners from Somalia, Sudan, and India will be on hand to apply a beautiful henna tattoo or visitors can learn how to apply one themselves,” said Kelly Armor Erie Art Museum Director of Education and Folk Art. The art of henna, or mehndi, is thousands of years old. A reddish dye extracted from the henna plant is applied, often with elaborate designs, to the hands and feet. Women across Africa, the Middle East, and India paint themselves with henna as part of social celebrations. In many cultures the bride is adorned with especially intricate patterns for her wedding night. The tattoo is temporary and usually lasts two weeks. “Erie now boasts several henna experts. Gannon has a large population of Indian students including several who are adept at henna. Erie is also home to many Somali and Sudanese women who learned the art traditionally, from other women, in their native countries,” said Armor. Registration is required by calling 814.459.5477 or visiting online at www.erieartmuseum.org. Cost is $12 for non-members and $10 for Erie Art Museum Members.

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 Mercyhurst College Social Work Department and Art Education Club will partner again on Sunday, April 6, to host the third annual Empty Bowls Meal and Auction from 3 to 5:30 pm at the Masonic Temple, 32 West Eighth St. For a $15 donation, guests receive a simple meal of soup, along with bread and beverage, and then have the pleasure of selecting a bowl from hundreds of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted bowls donated by student artists from Mercyhurst College and Mercyhurst Prep. Festivities also include an auction, which begins at 4:15 pm, and live entertainment. Although tickets for the event are $15 apiece, meal-only tickets for children (no bowl) are available for $3. Please call Shirley Greene at (814) 824-2266 to order tickets in advance so as to ensure enough bowls for everyone. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door. For more information, email Abbey Bloomquist or phone her at (814) 824-3667.

Wal-Mart pressures its 60,000 suppliers to reduce packaging waste. GE’s ecomagination campaign commits the company to solving the world’s environmental problems - and creating $10 billion in new revenue while doing it. What’s going on? Eco-consultant Andrew Winston has the answer: Business is talking about the environment because it has to. The limits of the natural world, from global warming to water scarcity, are obvious. Companies also face growing internal and external pressure. “There are two reasons you could choose to ride what I call the Green Wave,” Winston says. “One is that you feel it is the right thing to do. The second is that your customers, employees and stakeholders believe it’s the right thing to do. And the reality is that you don’t need number one.” Winston, founder of the consulting firm Winston Eco-Strategies and co-author of Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage, will discuss how environmental thinking can drive growth (and profit) at the next Speaker Series event at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Winston will speak at 7:30 pm Monday, April 7, in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building. Admission is free and open to the public.

A fund raiser combat SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) will be held Tuesday, April 8 from 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Country Foods, 98 East Columbus Ave, Corry (Route 6). Adults $7, Kids $4. This dinner is being held in honor of Grady Louis Yatsko, son of John and Jen Yatsko, of Corry, PA. Grady passed away on October 19th, 2007 when he was just 4 months and 8 days old. He was a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - which means, in short, that he was a perfectly healthy baby who died with no warning, no cause, no explanation. The proceeds from this dinner will be sent to the American SIDS Institute to support their research efforts. Hopefully, together, we can make a difference and help to save other babies’ lives. Please help Grady and his family keep other families from suffering this kind of loss. The dinner includes Spaghetti and Meatballs, Soup and Salad Bar and Bread Service. There will be a chinese auction featuring artwork by Kevin-John Jobczynski. The artwork has a combined value of $2,700, including a Jerome Bettis lithograph autographed by Bettis. One lucky fan will have a chance to win a package that includes an Erie Riverrats football, autographed by the entire team, a Kevin-John Jobczynski litograph of Jovon Johnson autographed by Johnson, and to be on the field for the coin toss at an upcoming game. Tickets are available at the door, but we are doing a presale on tickets so they know how many to cook for. If you would like to purchase a presale ticket, please email Jen Yatsko. Tickets are available now.

The Erie Community Health Fair, “What’s the Buzz? Bee Your Best!” will run from 4-7 pm on Thursday April 10 at the John E Horan Community Center, 730 Tacoma Road. FREE and open to the public. The fair will focus on areas like fire safety, bicycle safety, and healthy recipes and nutrition. Attendees also will be able to partake in family-oriented fun activities, and children can play in a Dino Jump. Prizes and food provided. The event will be hosted by the Gannon University Nursing Center. For more information, call Gannon University’s Villa Maria School of Nursing at (814) 871-5523.

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre presents “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby.” Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens by David Edgar; music and lyrics by Stephen Oliver. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Play, this extraordinary event has thrilled and delighted audiences since it first was staged 25 years ago. The performance is the story of a young gentleman, his mother, and sister who fall on hard times after the death of his father. The audience is taken on a roller coaster ride that eventually comes to a celebration of mankind’s capacity for kindness and reconciliation. The play is performed in two segments. Showtimes are: April 10: part I, 7:30 pm April 11: part II, 7:30 pm April 12: part I, 1 pm; part II, 7:30 pm April 17: part I, 7:30 pm April 18: part II, 7:30 pm April 19: part I, 1 pm; part II, 7:30 pm. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras Street. For more information, contact the Schuster Theatre box office at (814) 871-7494, or call (814) 871-7493.


Carl B Mack
Carl B Mack, executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers, will speak at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, April 10. Mack appears as part of the college’s School of Engineering Speaker Series. His talk, titled “FIRE: Foundation to Impact, Revitalize and Empower,” will be held at 7 pm in the Samuel P “Pat” Black Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Admission to the event is free, and parking will be available in the REDC garage off Jordan Road. In March 2005, Mack was named the fourth executive director of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the largest student-managed organization in the world. Within two years the Society’s membership grew from a historic high of 12,842 members to 26,024 members, and secured a $1 million private gift, its largest to date. Under Mack’s leadership NSBE has become a vocal advocate for reversing the declining academic achievement of African-American children in public education.

Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: Conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright will perform in concert on Friday, April 11 at 7:30 pm at Gannon’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 512 Peach Street. The concert is FREE and open to the public. This concert will feature soloist Laura Nelson (alp horn).

The Gem City Jazz Ensemble, 20-member jazz band under the direction of Scott Tomlison, presents afternoon entertainment 2:30-4 pm on Sunday April 13 at the All Season’s Marketplace and Flea Market in the Millcreek Mall Pavilion (Next to Dick’s), 2080 Interchange Rd, Erie PA. The performance is FREE and open to public. For additional information visit online at or (814) 899-8467.

The St Martin Center 10th annual Homeownership Expo will be held Tuesday, April 15 at the Erie County Blasco Library, 160 East Front St in Erie. There will be info on new homes, mortgages, homeownership programs, re-financing options, avoiding predatory lenders, fair housing issues, home inspections, home improvement loans, lead paint issues and more. Admission is FREE, no registration is required and everyone is welcome to attend.

Local historian, author and mariner Dr David Frew will present a visual account of his newest book, “Dreams Afloat: The Nolans and Erie Boat Building,” on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:30 pm, in Alex Theatre on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St, North East. The book provides a pictorial history of Erie’s ship building heritage through an in-depth look at the Nolan family. The event is FREE and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.


Erie Tool Show in Erie PA
The Erie Tool Show will be held April 15-16 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Participating machine tool dealers and tooling suppliers along with associated support industries from the tri-state area have come together to display the best selection of equipment to appear in Erie in years. This new emphasis is aimed at area businesses seeking the equipment they need to compete in today’s advanced manufacturing arena.

The Gannon University annual English Awards Night will be held Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30 pm in the Yehl Room of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street. The event is FREE and open to the public. The winners of the High School Poetry Contest will be announced and awards will be given. In addition, Ted Kooser will be the featured speaker for the event and will read a selection of his poetry. Kooser is one of the most distinguished voices in contemporary poetry, having served as the United States Poet Laureate from 2004-06. He has published 11 books of poetry and his many awards include the Pulitzer Prize, the Pushcart Prize, the Stanley Kunitz Prize, the James Boatwright Prize, and two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. For more information, contact Berwyn Moore, associate professor, Gannon English department, at (814) 871-7504.

The Office of Adult and Graduate Programs at Mercyhurst College will host an Open House on Thursday, April 17, from 4-7 pm, at the Catherine McAuley Adult Education Center, 511 E 34th St. (at the corner of 34th and Wallace). Prospective students can meet with admissions and financial aid staff and learn more about Mercyhurst’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, teacher certifications and post-baccalaureate certificates. Refreshments will be served. Call (814) 824-2270 for more information.

Roger Knacke, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the School of Science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host the next Open House Night in Astronomy on Thursday, April 17. “Sending a MESSENGER to Mercury: A Mission Update” will share the latest research on and photos of the mysterious Mercury beginning at 7:30 pm in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. Admission is FREE and open to the public; weather permitting, astronomical viewing from the college’s Mehalso Observatory will follow. On January 14, NASA’s MESSENGER, the first spacecraft to visit Mercury in 33 years, swept by the planet at an altitude of just 125 miles. “Because Mercury is the planet closest to the sun, it is difficult to see and to study,” Knacke said. “This small, hot world still holds many mysteries, like how it can be almost 70 percent iron, and how it was formed so close to the sun.” Knacke also noted that Mercury’s surface records traces of the second-largest impact in all of the solar system. “There was a catastrophic hit by an object estimated to have been 90 miles in diameter that left a crater about 960 miles across. How did that event affect the surface and interior of Mercury?” MESSENGER will make two more rendezvous with Mercury before settling into orbit around the planet in March 2011.

“schism” is the story of one man’s descent into Alzheimer’s dementia. The movie by John C Lyons of Lyons Den Productions has it’s premier at Louis C Cole Memorial Auditorium on the campus of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on Thursday, April 17 at 8 pm. You can purchase tickets for $5 right now. They go up to $7 the week of the premiere. John uploaded a couple of clips (Clip 1, Clip 2) on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

Prospective students can visit Mercyhurst North East for an Open House on Saturday, April 19, from 10 am - noon, at the Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building on the MNE campus, 16 W Division St, North East. Learn about MNE’s two-year associate degrees and one-year certificate programs, meet with admissions and financial aid staff, and tour campus. Call (814) 725-6144 for more information.

Got Math Game? Elementary math education students and faculty at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host two Elementary Parent Math Night events to help moms and dads help their young children. “These nights are free and open to all parents of local elementary-age kids,” said Danielle Goodwin, assistant professor of mathematics education and program host. “We’ll share fun math activities and games they can use at home to build their child’s math skills and number sense.” Goodwin added that the evenings are “for adults only. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate children.” Elementary Parent Math Nights are scheduled on Thursday, April 17, and Tuesday, April 22. Both will be held from 5:30 until 7:30 pm in 114 Reed Union Building. There is no cost to attend, but reservations are mandatory and may be made by e-mailing Danielle Goodwin or phoning her in the Penn State Behrend School of Science at (814) 898-6090.

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 Saint Vincent Auxiliary invites you to join them for A Runway Event from Noon - 2 pm on Wednesday, April 23 at the Lakeshore Country Club, 5950 Lakeshore Drive in Erie. Doors open at 11:30 am for shopping. Fashions by Talbot’s followed by a light luncheon. $25.00 per person. Registration - Checks payable to St Vincent Auxiliary, mail to: Sue Krzeszewski, 725 East 34th Street, Erie, PA 16504. RSVP prior to April 16th, 2008. Proceeds benefit the projects of the Saint Vincent Auxiliary. For additional information call: Jackie at (814) 452-5323.

Michael Acri Boxing Promotions presents the 2008 debut of undefeated former IBF lightweight champion “The Pittsburgh Kid” Paul Spadafora. Returning to the ring for the first time in over a year, Spadafora (40-0-1), fighting in a 10-round welterweight bout against an opponent to be named shortly, headlines a six-bout card at The Avalon Hotel in Erie, PA (16 West 10th Street) on Friday, April 25. Tickets, priced at $60 (Golden Ringside), $40 (Ringside), and $20 (General Admission), go on sale Monday March 10, and can be purchased at the Avalon Hotel, Dee’s Cigar Store, Pony Express (1903 W 8th St) and the Ringside Restaurant. The card will also feature Cincinnati super middleweight Stephan Pryor (10-3-1), Erie heavyweight Rocky Mullooly (2-1), Pittsburgh middleweight Chris Archer (9-2), and the pro debut of heavyweight Andres Taylor from Johnstown, PA.

Students from the Mercyhurst North East Dance Institute and a group of Mercyhurst musicians will combine their talents in a performance on Sunday, April 27, at 2 pm in St. Mary’s Chapel on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St., North East. The event is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

OneRepublic and Fabolous will perform an outdoor concert on April 29 at 7 pm at the Gannon University Athletic Field. In case of rain it will be moved indoors to the Gannon Hammermill Center. Tckets go on sale Monday March 17 at GannonTickets.com.


Northwestern Pennsylvania Autism Society of America 7th Annual Walk for Autism
The Northwestern Pennsylvania Autism Society of America 7th Annual Walk for Autism will be held Saturday, April 26 at Presque Isle State Park. Registration begins at 10 am with the walk starting at 11 am from Beach 1. You can print out a 2008 Walk Registration Form
here.

On April 29, three well respected local Business Leaders are pooling their knowledge and experience in order to help their fellow Professionals and Business Owners. They have put together a high impact conference for The Ultimate Executive. The three presenters and creators of The Ultimate Executive are, Tom Kennedy (Business Leader and Real Estate Developer), Steve Rosen (President of Domino Effect, Inc), and Tom Benson (Training Director, JL Nick Associates). The cost of admission is $69 before March 31 and $79 after April 1. Group rates are also available, call for details. The conference will be held at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel in Erie, PA from 8 am till noon. A continental breakfast is included.

The Moving Wall, the half-size replica of the Washington DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial that has been touring the country for more than twenty years, will be on display in Edinboro, PA May 1-5.

New Found Glory will perform a concert at the Edinboro University McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday May 3 at 8 pm. Tickets are available online or at the Edinboro University Pogue Student Center SGA Convenience Store.

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.

Roar on the Shore
The Manufacturers’ Association and Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally will be held July 17-20, 2008. While downtown Erie serves as the hub of the rally, related events take place throughout the city and region. Most notably, two outdoor concerts featuring major artists will be held Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, at Liberty Park along Presque Isle Bay.

Posted by Dennis at April 2, 2008 7:03 AM

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