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Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday April 8, 2008

Erie received a $1.88 million state for the “Union Square” Midtown project. Funds will go toward: The continued development of the Mercantile Building; a once vacant, blighted building that is being renovated into a five-floor, mixed-use facility; Property and site acquisition, as well as the renovation and expansion of Griswold Park, the heart of the project, to allow it to be used to its fullest potential; Acquire part of an Erie Parking Authority lot and demolish the Erie Manufacturing Building; Acquire and demolish the Warren Radio Building across the street from Griswold Park; and Revitalizing the nearby SNOOPS Neighborhood. In October 2007, an intense design effort resulted in development of a Design Charrette plan outlining the first $55 million of development in the vicinity of Griswold Park and Plaza.

Christopher Stevenson really didn’t want to go to jail. Stevenson, in handcuffs and shackles, climbed out a window of a Crawford County Sheriff’s Department mini-van and jumped out onto the highway at it was going 55 mph. Stevenson was caught about an hour later. The drugs might be out of his system by the time he is eligible for parole is a couple of decades.

Starbucks will give out free coffee at their stores today for about 30 minutes starting at 12:00 noon ET as a promotion for their new Pike Place Roast blend.

For the week of March 31 - April 6, Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie reported wagers of $44,874,121 with payouts of $41,023,208. The average taxable amount per slot machine per day was $250.94.

The Fox Business Network will be on campus all day Thursday, April 10, delivering live hourly news coverage about Mercyhurst’s decision to join the federal direct-lending program. According to recent news reports, an estimated 60 institutions have moved to federal direct-lending, meaning no private lender between them and the students.

The Mill Village Borough Council intends to adopt a revised Realty Transfer Tax Ordinance. No date was provided in the notice as to when the Borough will adopt the provision. As with Harbor Creek School District, the ordinance will not increase the rate of tax collected, but merely allow the Department of Revenue to collect unpaid tax.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, US Commercial Service and the Gannon University SBDC are sponsoring a seminar, “Exporting: First Steps to Success”, on Tuesday, April 29 at the Bessemer Corporate Conference Training Center, 764 Bessemer St, in Meadville. Cost is $40.

Four Warren County students have been awarded the first Daniel S and Wendy J Mead Trustee Scholarships at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The Meads, who are Warren County natives, provided a $100,000 gift to establish the scholarship, which gives first preference to students from Warren County. The first Mead Trustee Scholarships were awarded this month for the spring 2008 semester to Victor Hodak, a sophomore from Warren, and freshmen Cody Brown from Tidioute, Kaisy Kafferlin from Spring Creek, and Joel Mason from Youngsville. Currently Penn State Behrend has 113 Warren County students enrolled in its academic programs.

The Erie SeaWolves fell victim to the Harrisburg Senators, the top hitting team in the league on Monday night 12-5. The ‘Wolves and Senators meet in game two of a three-game series on Tuesday night at Commerce Bank Park with a 6:05 first pitch. The SeaWolves home opener is Thursday, April 10 at 6:35 pm.

The Penn State Behrend softball team took on the Thiel Tomcats on Monday, April 7 at the Behrend field. The women defeated the Tomcats 8-0 in the first game and went on to beat Thiel in game two 8-5.

The community art show, “Throughout The Spectrum: Exploring Autism Through Art,” will be held through April 9 at the Barber National Institute in commemoration of Autism Awareness Month. The show provides an exciting opportunity to come together to discover all aspects of autism through various forms of artistic expression. The art show will be open for public viewing in the north complex of the institute on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8 and 9, from 9 am - 4 pm. Admission is FREE - all are encouraged to attend. For more information, please call (814) 878-5903.

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 Bloggers will be meeting again Tuesday April 8 at Pio’s Italian Restaurant, 815 East Avenue 7-9 pm. This is a social gathering of those who blog, those interested in blogging, interested in learning about blogging and those who want to meet their favorite bloggers. No notes or speeches. Just sharing a cold one and hot food.

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, 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 Erie Runners Club 5K Poker Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Apr 12 at 9 am at Presque Isle State Park.

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 26th annual Highmark Quad Games will begin with the 100 yard swim on Sunday April 13 at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse pool.

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.

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.

William Witherup, a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists, will give a lunchtime recital at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, April 17. Witherup’s performance begins at 12:15 pm in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. It is FREE and open to the public. The organist and choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church in Meadville since 1970, Witherup also taught music in Crawford Central schools for 24 years. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and did post-graduate work at Carnegie Mellon University and the Royal School of Church Music, then in Croydon, England. He became a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists in 1980, and has served several terms as dean of AGO’s Erie Chapter.

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.

Two members of the creative writing faculty at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will read from their newest works on Thursday, April 17, in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. The readings by George Looney, associate professor of creative writing and English, and Tom Noyes, assistant professor of creative writing, will begin at 6 pm. Admission is FREE and open to the public. Looney’s novella Hymn of Ash (Elixir Press, 2008) is winner of the national 2007 Elixir Press Fiction Chapbook Competition. Tom Noyes will read from Spooky Action at a Distance and Other Stories (Dufour Editions, 2008), a collection of short fiction that was runner-up for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs’ 2006 Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction.

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.

The Family Services of Northwestern Pennsylvania 26th annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake will be held April 18 and 25 at Greengarden Lanes.

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.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, hosts an evening of English, French and Italian art songs presented by Salvatore Champagne, associate professor of singing at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, on Monday, April 21. Champagne’s recital will begin at 7:30 pm in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel and is free and open to the public. He will be accompanied by John Champagne, his brother and an associate professor of English at Penn State Behrend.

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.

Music at Noon: The Logan Series brings Percussion Group Cincinnati to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, this month. The award-winning ensemble in residence at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati will perform at noon on Thursday, April 24, in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building. Admission is FREE and the audience is welcome to bring a bagged lunch to enjoy with the performance, or purchase a meal from Bruno’s Cafe, which is located on Reed’s second floor.

Poet Malena Morling will read from her works at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, as part of the college’s Creative Writer’s Speaker Series. Morling’s reading will begin at 6 pm on Thursday, April 24, in the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. A reception for her will precede the reading at 4:30 in the chapel’s first-floor living room; both events are FREE and open to the public.

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.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, US Commercial Service and the Gannon University SBDC are sponsoring a seminar, “Exporting: First Steps to Success”, on Tuesday, April 29 at the Bessemer Corporate Conference Training Center, 764 Bessemer St, in Meadville. Cost is $40.

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.

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.

Dr Charisse Nixon will present “Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Adolescence” on April 30 at 7 pm at the Villa Lecture Hall on Villa Maria Elementary School’s campus. The event, hosted by The Ophelia Project, is free and open to the public. “Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Adolescence” will provide those involved in the lives of adolescents insight into the development challenges they are facing. Nixon will also address what adolescents need during this time, whether their outbursts are normal and more. Dr. Nixon is an assistant professor of psychology at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. To RSVP, e-mail or call 456-5437. Villa Lecture Hall on Villa Maria Elementary School’s campus is located at 2551 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505. United Way of Erie County, Healthy Youth Development and Villa Maria Elementary School are supporters for this event. The Ophelia Project is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Erie, Pa. Recognized as a leader in assessing social conditions and advocating healthy, safe relationships, the organization partners with educational, civic and community leaders to educate and empower kids and adults across North America.

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.

The Erie County Bar Association and The Erie Runners Club Law Day 5k Run and Walk will be held Saturday, May 3 at 9 am. The race will start at the Erie County Courthouse.

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.

In celebration of The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2008 Preservation Month theme, “Place Matters,” the Erie Center for Design and Preservation is hosting a lecture, seminar and walking tour on May 9-10. All three events are FREE and open to the public. The internationally-known founder of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, Mr. Arthur Ziegler, will be the featured speaker at the Erie Center for Design and Preservation’s first public event. Ziegler’s lecture, “The Good Works of Historic Preservation,” will be delivered Friday, May 9 at 7 PM in the Orientation Theatre of the Erie Maritime Museum, adjacent to the Blasco Memorial Library on Erie’s Bayfront. Ziegler says “historic preservation should be looked upon as both a cultural and economic development tool, leading to community revitalization, local investment, jobs, and a better quality of life.” On Saturday morning, May 10, the Erie Center for Design and Preservation (ECDP) will sponsor a seminar on historic preservation. Topics include: an overview of the National Register of Historic Places, the economics of preservation, and the tax credits afforded to property owners who rehabilitate historic buildings. The seminar will be held Saturday, May 10 from 9 AM to Noon at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 20 East 5th Street. On Saturday afternoon, May 10 , Mr Jeff Kidder AIA of Kidder Wachter Architecture will offer a 90 minute architectural walking tour of lower State Street and Perry Square. Kidder will meet members of the tour on the front steps of the Erie Art Museum, 417 State Street at 1 PM. Kidder will discuss the history of the City of Erie, neighborhood changes and attributes of the remaining historic structures. Kidder believes that “historic preservation in Erie is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability.” Kidder serves on the City of Erie Planning Commission, the Downtown Improvement District board, the Erie Center for Design and Preservation board, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Historic Preservation board.

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.

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 8, 2008 7:06 AM

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