ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Thursday, June 19, 2008

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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday, June 19, 2008

Posted by Mike on June 19, 2008

19-year-old Damere Talmadge has been charged with assault against his three-month-old son Thameere as well as several other charges. The baby later died of massive head injuries. More here.

Last night was the Manufacturer’s Association’s 103rd Annual Meeting. Musicial and political guests included Chuck Mangione, Republican presidential candidate (and TV district attorney) Fred Thompson, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards and Ari Fleischer, who was press secretary to President George W. Bush. The big event was held at the Bayfront Convention Center. The Association also has announced a name change to the Manufacturer and Business Association, a name they feel better reflects “the organization’s collective, unified, and powerful business voice of more than 4,600 member companies.”

Cherry Street, for a few blocks south of 12th Street, will be closed for paving. Use Liberty Street (two blocks west of Cherry) as an alternate route.

George R. Sample, Jr. passed away Wednesday. Sample was the long-time publisher of the Corry Journal, and continued to come into the office daily and write the headlines for the paper.

Tonight is another downtown block party night. Come to 10th-11th & State and enjoy some live music. The theme for this week is “Country in the City” and music will be by Spooner and Next of Kin.

If you suddenly notice a large decline in the amount of crack on the streets of Erie, it’s because Carl “Snaps” Smith was charged yesterday with trying sell a kilo of crack on the lower west side. In other crime related news, Erie is spreading the love as far as Boston, Massachusettes where Dante D. Adams, 23, of Erie, PA, was nabbed with three others for armed robbery. Completely unfamiliar with public transportation due to growing up in Erie, Adams made the wrong choice of attempting his get-away on a public transit train. Police calmly waited for Adams at the next stop from where he was reported to have boarded.

Looking for some great local volunteer oppportunities? Check out this blog post by local blogger Jennifer Robinson (Jenson).

We recently added a few new blogs to the “Recently Updated” area. Welcome Brooke and Freeland and This is the Glamorous.

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed that the property/casualty affiliates of Erie Insurance Group have a Best’s Rating of A+ (Superior). A.M. Best Co. is the leading authority on insurance companies. The affirmed rating keeps Erie Insurance Group in the highest category (Superior) for financial strength. Only 9.8 percent of approximately 2,000 property/casualty insurers have earned this high rating. Erie Family Life Insurance Company also had its Best’s rating of A (Excellent) affirmed. The rating outlooks are stable for all companies.

Sumner Nichols, son of Sumner and Barbara Nichols of Erie, PA, has been selected to be a Kelley Scholar by the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. A graduate of Collegiate Academy, he came in third national and best in state in the Decathlon and competed in the Mock Trial Competition. He was invited to attend the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University.

The SeaWolves let an early lead slip away on Wednesday night, but managed a two-out ninth inning comeback to down the Binghamton Mets 5-4. The win for the ‘Wolves was their first comeback win when trailing after the sixth inning this season.

The Titusville Historical Society will be hosting the “One-Day Museum” this Saturday, June 21st, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad: Perry Street Station, located at 409 S. Perry St., Titusville, PA. The One-Day Museum allows the local communities to share their history and network with other history buffs. Local organizers were overheard saying that if enough people attend, the event may turn into the “Two-Day Museum” but ErieBlogs was unable to confirm this rumor. For more information call Carole Hall at 827-0928 or Clark at 827-8810. The Titusville Herald has more information on the event.

Are you starting out your college search? Learn what to expect at Allegheny College’s Charting the Course to College program. This one-day workshop, designed particularly for high school sophomores and juniors, offers professional insight into conducting a thorough and effective college search. The day’s events include interactive sessions, keeping both college-bound students and their families in mind.

The Technology Council of Northwest PA will hold a lunch-time session today, dealing with virtualization technologies at the Ambassador Conference Center. Learn more….

Local arts and culture blog venangago-go.com is cosponsoring, with Seneca area coffeehouse Brother Bean, a free concert featuring Maryland recording artists Jon Felton and the Soulmobile on Monday June 23rd, 2008 to celebrate the third anniversary of the blog. IsidoreRecords.com calls Jon Felton and the Snowmobile’s unique fusion of folk, bluegrass, rock, gospel, and catchy storytelling “…very heartfelt and strikingly real…Think early Pedro the Lion meets later Danielson Famile, with the raw intensity of early Violet Femmes and charming quirkiness…” Samples of their music can be found at www.myspace.com/soulmobile Venangago-go.com provides free area entertainment listings, interviews and reviews of local artists, regional, national and international art and culture news, a free bibliography of Venango county authors, and free and legal music downloads. The all-ages free concert runs from 7-9 pm at Brother Bean (2803 SR 257, Seneca, PA 16346). For more information, email Michael Dittman at Michael.dittman@gmail.com or call Brother Bean at 814-677-0232 Brother Bean’s Concert Series is made possible in part through the Samuel and Edith C. Justus Charitable trust, the Elizabeth S. Black Charitable Trust, and the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), a local decision-making program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), a state agency. PPA is administered in this region by the Venango County Center for Creative Development.

center>The first Buggin’ State of the season will be held on Friday June 20. Buggin State is a cruise-in that give car owners and car clubs in the Erie PA area a chance to showcase their classic, custom and tricked-out vehicles. Thousands of enthusiasts come downtown to see the cars on display along State Street. FREE, live music with the Four Jays at Perry Square.

“Remembering Janis” will run June 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 at Theatre 145, located at 145 West 11th St in Erie. Ticket prices are $10 Regular seating, $12 Riser seating and VIP seating at $15. For advanced tickets please visit their web site or call (814) 879-0733.

Gannon University Writers’ Workshops 2008 are for students Grades 4-12. Develop your writing process and produce a book of your writing under the direction of Dr Sally LeVan and the teachers of the NWPA Writing Project. Each session will be limited to 25 students per session. Dates are June 23-27, July 7-11 and July 21-25. Workshops will be held 9 am to 12 pm in Room 3200 of the Palumbo Center, 8th and Peach Streets. Registration includes T-shirt, snacks and book. $125 per one-week session/$200 for two-weeks. For information contact Dr Sally LeVan, (814) 871-7506. Registration.

The Goodell Gardens and Homestead Summer Solstice Celebration takes place 2-5 pm on Sunday June 22. Featuring labyrinth walks (2-4 pm), Make-and-Take Container Gardening with Jean Chapman of Scotland Yard Nursery (3:30-5:00). Plants provided; please bring your own pot up to 18”. Refreshments by Nicks Place (2:30-4:30). $5 - Nonmember, $2 - Members. Please call (814) 734-6699 to register.

Erie area eighth and ninth-grade students are invited to Mercyhurst College to explore career pathways as part of a three-day Game of Life Future Fair offered June 23-25 by the Mercyhurst College Aspirations Program. The FREE sessions, from 5 to 7 pm each day, take place in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center on Mercyhurst’s Erie campus, and include a light dinner and prize giveaways. The project aims to help students make the most of their high school years by exploring future career paths, particularly opportunities in the Erie area, and identifying realistic options toward preparing for careers in those fields. Program organizers say that research suggests students who explore career preferences during middle school are more focused and more successful during their high school years. Pre-registration is not required; for more information, contact Jillian Perfetti at jperfe43@mercyhurst.edu.

The 2008 City of Erie Recreation Tennis Tournaments will be held once again at
Frontier Park. Junior: June 24-27, Adult: August 13-17. Applications are available at: PennBriar Health and Tennis Club, Westwood Racquet Club, Lake Shore Country Club, Kahkwa Club and Erie Sport Store’s downtown location. For more information contact Richard Beck at 835-5452.

The Saint Vincent Auxiliary presents “A Night at the Races” on Wednesday, June 25 at Presque Isle Downs Clubhouse and Lounge. The event is from 4:30 pm - 9 pm. Each attendee will receive $10 in gaming tokens, a four-course meal in the Clubhouse, and a chance to gamble the night away while learning more about the Children’s Miracle Network. For questions and/or RSVP, please contact Stephanie Flanagan at (814) 452-5302.

Russ Combs, executive director of Gannon University’s Erie Technology Incubator (ETI) will address ETI’s plans to provide “new economy” job opportunities in Erie and the assistance available to local companies, during the upcoming Eggs ‘n’ Issues briefing starting at 8 am Thursday, June 26, at the Manufacturers’ Association Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street at Pittsburgh Avenue. All media are invited to attend. Located at the former Boys & Girls Club site at 130 West Eighth Street, ETI is open to any company using advanced technology, but focuses on three technology sectors, including: information technology, such as software development; engineering technology; and scientific technology, such as alternative energy or medical devices. It is an entrepreneurial environment that fosters innovation and collaboration among its companies and the public and private sectors, while providing support services customized to the unique needs of each client. Combs, who has more than 20 years of experience in working with companies in this capacity, has been head of ETI since August 2007. He previously was the executive director of the Business Incubation Group of Shenandoah (Va) Region, a position he held from 2004 until his move to Erie. To register for this briefing, contact Tracy Shepard at (814) 833-3200 or (800) 815-2660. Cost is $30 for members, $60 for nonmembers.

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

The Erie County Historical Society will hold a weekly Ghosts and Legends Tour at 8 pm on Fridays, June 27-September 26. Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie through a 1.5 hour walking tour. Reservations required, call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.

Erie’s gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community will come together the weekend of June 28-29 to celebrate Pride 2008 with a picnic, march/rally, and social opportunities. Festivities get underway Saturday, June 28, with the Pride Erie Picnic at Rotary Pavilion, Beach 7 at Presque Isle State Park. The Pride Picnic runs from 1-6 pm with food being served from 2-4 pm. The Pride March will step off from The Zone Dance Club at 1 pm. Sunday, June 29, with the Pride Rally beginning in Perry Square at 2 pm. Information about the Erie area Pride March/Rally is available at www.ErieGayPride.org, by email at eriegaypride@gmail.com, or by calling 866-229-1974 (toll free).

The Erie Philharmonic’s Get Your Phil At Noon Summer Music Series FREE concerts will be held July 8 and August 12 at noon in front of the Warner Theatre on State Street. The free lunch-hour ensemble concerts, designed to provide “music while you munch,” will feature a Philharmonic string quartet fully amplified and seating for the outdoor event. WQLN radio will broadcast live from the event this year.

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.

The 2008 City of Erie Junior Golf Program is open to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 17. Entry fee is $7 per person. The number of entrants will determine the number of divisions. Registration will take place at J C Martin Golf Course from June 1 through July 19. Please call J C Martin Golf Course at 864-1821 with any questions. Tournament 1 is at J C Martin Golf Course, West 38th St and Shunpike Rd (next to Erie Zoo), on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 am. Tournament 2 will be held at Downing Golf Course, 1351 Troupe Rd, 899-5827, on Wednesday, July 30 at 8:30 am. Tournament 2 will be immediately followed by a picnic and an awards presentation.

The Erie Lions Club Save an Eye City vs County All-Star football game will be held July 25 at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium, 26th and State Streets. The major purpose of the Save An Eye Game is to raise money to provide free eye care to low income children.

The Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm 2008 Native American Festival is July 26-27 at the farm in Edinboro. Hours are 11-6 daily. Admission is $3 per person, 3 and under are FREE.

The Gannon University ShakeXperience Theater Camp will be held Monday, July 28 through Saturday, August 2. This one-week resident high school (through graduation) theater camp is taught by members of Gannon’s theater program and qualified professionals. Classes are conducted in Shakespeare, text analysis, stage movement, rehearsal and performance. Workshops are offered in stage combat, period dance, and music. Includes a public matinee performance of CYMBELINE as part of the Shakespeare SummerNights outdoor threatre festival. Cost: $99 (includes room, board, and instruction fee). For more information, contact Fr Shawn Clerkin, (814) 871-7493.