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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday May 14, 2008

WSEE TV will air their exclusive interview with John Kanzius in a 30 minute special on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 pm. For the station to preempt the uber popular “Wheel of Fortune”, you know it’s important. Along with word on the breakthrough with the success of Kanzius discusses how big it could be for the Erie region. The previous estimate was that it could be a $10 billion industry. New estimates are for sales of up to $100 billion.

Apparently there are no books in the Erie County Blasco Library on when you should call the police. From a City of Erie Police incident report - “A goose was tapping on windows at the library on the Bayfront Parkway. The goose left.” If it was a Canadian Goose, they would have called the Border Patrol.

Somehow Christa, who has 5 young children including triplets, manages the time to blog at the aptly titled “It’s A Wild and Crazy Life.” Along with the triplets she has Irish Twins, siblings who are not actually twins, but rather, were born less than 12 months apart.

VisitErie is hosting a meeting planner familiarization (FAM) tour May 13-14. Coordinated by VisitErie and members of the tourism industry, the 2-day FAM tour will showcase Erie’s meeting and convention facilities as well as some of the region’s major attractions, restaurants and regional activities in order to attract state, religious and national association business. Eighteen association representatives are in town to visit and tour locations including the new Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, Erie Bayfront Convention Center, Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara, Erie Zoo, Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Family First Sports Park, the Victorian Princess and several area hotels.

The Junior League of Erie and several local health care providers have joined forces to raise awareness of Flat Head Syndrome in Erie County. The Junior League of Erie is planning an awareness week from May 13 through the 17. On Saturday May 17, Gannon University will host a “play and learn” day for parents who wish to learn more about Flat Head Syndrome and how to prevent it. The event will be held at the Palumbo Center, 824 Peach Street. Medical professionals with be available to offer free screenings and answer questions. Admission and workshops are FREE and open to the public. Flat Head Syndrome is a commonly used term to refer to several different medical conditions where there is flattening to a part of an infant’s head, caused by the infant frequently having pressure on his head in the same position. The incidence of Flat Head Syndrome has increased significantly in recent years, with an estimated 1 in 20 infants now affected. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics launched the “Back to Sleep” Campaign. This campaign has proven to be highly successful in saving infants’ lives. However, this campaign, combined with the proliferation of convenient equipment such as infant car carriers has resulted in infants spending more time on their backs than ever before. Parents and caregivers need to be educated on both preventing and recognizing Flat Head Syndrome. Some early signs of Flat Head Syndrome are: head turned in one direction most of the time, flat spot on the back or one side of the head, bulging on one side of the head, one ear more forward than the other, asymmetry of the face and head tilted to one side most of the time. For more information, please visit www.flatheadprevention.org.

For the week of May 5-11, Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $42,246,140 with payouts of $38,492,709.

Sen. Jane Earll, R-Erie, is sponsoring Senate Bill 2, which would use the 5 percent state slots tax to float a $750 million bond issue. The money would be used for water projects such as dams and other water projects in all counties except Allegheny and Philadelphia. Currently the 5 percent slots tax has about $78.6 million from the seven open casinos in an economic development fund. By law, the money must be used for economic development. The bill is nicknamed the “H2O PA Act.”

The National Business Group on Health, a national non-profit organization, recognized more than 50 US employers for their continuing efforts to promote healthy work environments and encourage workers to live healthier lifestyles. The fourth annual Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards were presented at the Leadership Summit sponsored by the National Business Group on Health’s (NBGH) Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity. Among the companies honored were Erie Insurance.

Ameridrives International, LLC, of Erie, Pennsylvania was denied a claim by the Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance regarding eligibility for workers and former workers to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA).

Erie, PA native Camille Spinello Andrews is Associate Dean at Rutgers School of Law and Managing Director at Context Capital Partners. Her husband, US Rep Rob Andrews, is running for the US Senate seat in New Jersey.

The Gannon University Bookstore was one of more than 280 college and university bookstores nationally to take part in the recently concluded “Buy a Book, Build a Forest” campaign. The goal of the campaign was to plant 100,000 trees in a national forest. Students at participating schools were asked to go online, to BuildaForest.com, and vote where they felt the forest should be planted. The school with the most votes, as a percentage of enrollment, would have the school’s name associated with the forest. During the 2007-08 school year, students from across the country participated in the competition by donating a portion of each used textbook purchased or sold at their bookstore to The Arbor Day Foundation. The proceeds from this nationwide recycling competition will be used to plant trees in the student-selected Pike and San Isabel National Forest, located in central/southeast Colorado. Used textbooks offer advantages for the environment and help keep textbooks affordable for college students, according to Anthony Marchewka, manager of the Gannon Bookstore. “Rising textbook prices are a concern for every college student,” he said. “One way to help keep book prices lower is to offer a strong supply of used textbooks. On average, used books offer a savings of up to 25 percent. “The ‘Buy a Book, Build a Forest’ campaign has helped us communicate with faculty the importance of re-using textbooks, both from an environmental perspective as well as a financial benefit to students. It has also encouraged students to sell back their textbooks at the end of the term and make more used textbooks available for the next term,” he added. The campaign began in August and ran through March.

The Erie SeaWolves dropped their eighth straight ballgame on Tuesday night on a walkoff home run in the bottom of the 10th inning at Prince George’s Stadium against the Bowie Baysox. The SeaWolves take on the Baysox in the middle game of a three-game series at Prince George’s Stadium on Wednesday night…7:05 First Pitch. Rightie Luis Marte (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his Double-A debut for the ‘Wolves against RHP Jason Berken (3-2, 3.26 ERA)

Allegheny College senior second baseman Abby Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa/Shady Side Academy) was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while freshman catcher Marci Potuzko (Greensburg, Pa/Hempfield Area) earned NCAC Newcomer of the Year honors as six different Allegheny Gators were named to the 2008 All-NCAC softball squad. In addition, junior shortstop Rachel Ryan (West Salem, Ohio/Northwest) was named an All-NCAC First-Team selection for the second consecutive season after leading the Gators in both batting average (.449) and RBI (33). The 2008 NCAC regular season champion Gators also had three players earn second team honors including sophomore infielder Maggie Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa/Shady Side Academy), sophomore utility player Allison Korotkin (Birmingham, Mich/Detroit County Day), and freshman pitcher Amanda Downey (Essex Junction, Vt/Essex).

UALR Director of Athletics Chris Peterson announced Tuesday the hiring of Ouachita Baptist’s Scott Norwood as head baseball coach. Norwood was head baseball coach at Mercyhurst College in 1999 where he complied a record of 26-19. After the season, he decided to leave coaching, and accepted a position as Event Coordinator at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. After a two-year hiatus from coaching, Norwood returned to baseball in 2002 as head coach of Sterling College.

Discover RFID in the Food Industry with the 2008 RU ready for RFID? Conference today, Wednesday May 14 at Penn State Behrend’s RFID Center of Excellence. This year’s conference features five sessions presented by companies experiencing the benefits of RFID, as well as organizations that are providing RFID solutions throughout the food industry. The information presented will not only help you understand ways in which RFID is being utilized in this industry, but also how to increase your productivity and improve processes related to food manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Also, be sure to check out the 2007 RU ready for RFID? Conference Highlights, containing downloads of the 2007 speakers’ presentations, and images from the event.

Every Wednesday is free admission to all four Erie Art Museum galleries from 11 am to 5 pm.

This May, the world’s best travel destination is on French Street as the Arts Council of Erie presents ‘Passport to Paris!’ The historic Warner Theatre lobby transforms into a Parisian boulevard for one night only Friday, May 16 - complete with artists, street performers, French cuisine and more! It’s an evening that’s sure to be tres magnifique! Tickets are $60 and benefit the Arts Council of Erie.

The 16th annual Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival takes place on May 16-18 in Edinboro, PA. Events will be held in downtown Edinboro, Saturday on the campus of Edinboro University, and Sunday at venues around Edinboro. This year’s musical guests include the Chelsea House Orchestra, Melinda Crawford (2003 National Scottish Fiddle Champion), Maidens IV, and Bare Bones. Pipers and other musicians should check out the new Freestyle Piping competition. Come to the Edinboro Highland Games and “Take a cup’o kindness home!”

The Roadhouse Theatre at Theatre 145 presents An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein directed by Kim Mc. The show runs two weeks only: May May 16-17 and May 23-24. It will be held at Theatre 145, 145 West 11th St. The Roadhouse Theatre continues its Independent Stage Series with An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein starring the husband and wife comic duo Jeff and Kelly Rodland. This series of short skits are laugh out loud funny and the one-act evening offers several unpredictable surprises. But the style is unmistakable. Lauded poet, songwriter and author of children’s books, the incomparable Shel Silverstein’s short plays are deeply infused with the same wicked sense of humor that made him famous. All show times 8 pm - Doors open at 7:20. Tickets are $8 - General Seating no reservations necessary. Limited VIP seating is available at $12 - pre-paid reservations required; phone 459-8215. As usual BYOB with proper ID.

Join your friends for the 6th Annual Bike Around The Bay in Erie, PA. Gather with hundreds of tri state bicyclists on Saturday, May 17, in Erie, PA at the Intermodal Transportation Center on the Bayfront Parkway to bike around beautiful Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The event is a fundraiser for the non-profit youth environmental education organization Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force. There is a 10 mile Town Tour, a 30 mile Bay Tour and a 50 mile Endurance Tour. Registration is $17 for individuals and $35 for families.

There will be a fundraiser for Drew Kauffman 4-9 pm on Saturday May 17 at the Knights of St John, 660 West 26 St. Tickets are $10 per person. Drew is being treated for brain tumors. For more information, call (814) 453-3248. Tickets will be available at the door. Donations can be made to Friends of Andrew Kauffman at any PNC Bank location.

In celebration of International Museum Day, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) will offer a “buy one general admission, get one general admission free” deal on Sunday, May 18. In Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Region, the offer applies to both the Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara and the Drake Well Museum.

Theatre 145 will be holding open auditions for cast members of the musical “Remembering Janis.” This play a tribute to singer/songwriter Janis Joplin. “Remembering Janis” is set for a three week run starting on Friday, June 13, 2008. Cast members needed are: Speaker - This role is for a male or female, aged 30-50 years of age. The character is a 1960’s-70’s hippie type. There is no singing involved with his role. The speaker relates his/her memories of Joplin during her career between sets of “Janis’” songs. Be prepared with a 1 minute, in character, monologue. Auditions for the role of the speaker are scheduled for Monday, May 19 at 6 pm at Theatre 145, 145 West 11th St. For more information about the auditions please call Steve Opsanic at 814-873-5069

The Gannon University Small Business Development Center along with Paulsen Productions are sponsoring “From Service To Success”, a seminar for entrepreneurial veterans. It will be held May 20 at the Gannon Yehl Ballroom, 124 West 7th St in Erie. Cost is $15 and registration is required.

The Technology Council of Northwest PA brings you the 5th Annual Business Intelligence and Technology Summit (BITS) event that will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. This event presents an opportunity for IT managers, CEOs, and professionals to gather, discuss, and learn about the forces shaping our regions IT industry. This year’s BITS theme will focus on Emerging Technologies for Business. This one-day event will be host to a full day of seminars, workshops and product demonstrations. They will have 15 topic speakers, as well both a morning and luncheon keynote address. Morning keynote speaker is Nortel President and CEO Michael Zafivorski who is a graduate of Edinboro. Register online.

Alzheimer’s Association- Greater Pennsylvania Chapter presents “A Celebration of Caring, An Afternoon of Enlightenment and Recognition” on Thursday, May 22, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Luncheon at The Regency at South Shore, 322 Washington Place, Erie, PA 16505. Featuring: Melanie Titzel, MS, Co-Chair Greater Pennsylvania Board of Directors and the presentation of the “Caring Touch” Award honoring outstanding performance in dementia patient care. Join us for an afternoon of enlightenment and recognition as you hear the touching story of Melanie Titzel’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease on a personal and professional level. The Caring Touch Awards are reserved for the “the best of the best” and offer you an excellent way to salute a deserving caregiver and recognize employee accomplishments This event is open to all professionals and family caregivers, and the community. For questions, please email Kristen Bires or call her at (814) 456-9200.

KillerWolf Films is holding meetings/open auditions for their new feature film “Warriors of the Apocalypse” on Friday May 23 and Friday May 30. They will be held at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal space at 12th and Brandes Streets in Erie from 6-9 pm both days. Shooting commences Saturday July 19 and wraps Sunday July 27, with filming being in the Northwestern PA area and possibly a few dates on the NJ/PA/NY border. KillerWolf Films latest release, “Fist of the Vampire”, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is to be released worldwide July 8 from Maxim Media International/Brain Damage Films. KillerWolf Films is co-owned by Erieite Len Kabasinski and Meadville,PA native Lisa McQuiston.

The 11th annual Memorial Day Shootout soccer tournament will be held at Family First Sports Park in Erie PA, May 24-26. Over 250 teams U9-U19 are registered for the tourney. This is one of the top college recruiting tournaments in the country with dozens of colleges sending representatives. All area hotel rooms are booked and waits at area restaurants are expected.

The 18th annual Erie Wild Rib Cook-off and Music Festival will be held May 28-31 at Perry Square in downtown Erie. Admission is FREE. This popular annual family event includes eight Professional National Award Winning Rib Cooking Teams offering the very best in BBQ cuisine. Added attractions include a selection of delicious festival foods, ongoing stage music, the “Kid ZONE” - a children’s fun area featuring scheduled Ride-A-Ribba-Rama packages, artist and crafts booths, educational and informational displays, specialty vendors and more. This festival has grown to attract over 50,000 visitors to Perry Square Park and the adjacent streets in Erie’s downtown district.

JR’s Last Laugh Comedy Night Event to benefit Because You Care will be held at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 29. Comedian: Juston McKinney. Food and drinks are available before and during the show. Ticket price: $15.50 Juston McKinney is one of the hottest comedians in the country. Coming to us from New York City, he has headlined many of the clubs in NY such as Caroline’s, Comic Strip Live, Dangerfield’s, and Stand-up NY. He’s been featured at the Toyota Comedy Festival and on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and had his own show on Comedy Central. He is a US Comedy Arts Festival Award Winner, and delivers a funny, original, high energy performance, which has made him a huge hit all over the country. Call (814) 899-0061 to buy single tickets or blocks of tickets. Circle May 29 on your calendar today and plan to enjoy a great night of entertainment. Get your party together and share the night with friends and family! A big thank you to JR’s Last Laugh Comedy Club for sponsoring the 6th annual Comedy Night event. The money raised will help Because You Care pay for the spay and neuter of the many kittens taken in during April and May.

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.

The Saint Vincent Sports Medicine 2008 Edinboro Triathlon will be held March 31. You can register here.

Preview dresses owned and worn by nationally-recognized celebrities like Martina McBride, Beyonce, Amy Grant, Ann Curry, Raven Symone, Patti LaBelle and many others from 12:30-3 pm June 1 at Lake Shore Country Club. The Celebrity Dress Preview event will benefit My Father’s House of Erie, a nonprofit transitional program for homeless/abused women and their children. The organization operates the retail store Bella Designs, 4801 Peach Street, in which women in the program have the opportunity to learn vocational skills and work experience. “These dresses are telling of the personalities who owned them ,” said Connie Miller, My Father’s House Of Erie, special projects administrator, “and this event will be a casual Sunday afternoon here in Erie by the lake to see them before they travel to Los Angeles for our live on-line fashion show auction in the Fall,” she added. The event will also feature guest speaker, Pete McDaniel, Senior Writer, Golf Digest Magazine and “Training a Tiger” co-author with the late Earl Woods, will entertain the audience with his storytelling and will auction four original Tiger Woods autographed photos from the legendary golfer’s PGA 20007 victory. Sponsored by Fishtank creative, an Erie-based marketing advertising and communications agency, powered by the Velocity Network, the host committee is comprised of Melanie Johnson, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, Cynthia Phillips, Motivational Speaker, Alan and Angie Rossum, NFL San Francisco 49ers (formerly of the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers), Shaun and Shonda Smith, NFL Cleveland Browns, and Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Thomas, St Vincent Health Center. Tickets are $35 per person or $50 per couple and available at the following locations: Bella Designs, 4801 Peach Street; All GE Federal Credit Union branches; and National City Bank, 801 State Street. For more information, please call (814) 879-0880.

On Saturday, June 7, 2008 there will be a Nautical Flea Market from 10 am to 1 pm at the BCMS (Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies) 40 Holland Street, Erie, PA. The event is FREE and is held in conjunction with Erie Safe Boating Day. All boaters (power/sail) are welcome. Tables for selling nautical wares are available FREE of charge but table reservations MUST be made by calling Linda Dunbar before May 28th at (814) 456-9060. A bulletin board will also be available to post items too large to display.

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.

The eMarketing Learning Center at eBizITPA will hold a roundtable titled Aligning Marketing and IT for Success from 4 pm to 5:30 pm on June 18.

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts will be held June 27-29 at Liberty Park.

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 May 14, 2008 7:04 AM

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