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Erie PA News and Events for Sunday, July 6, 2008
Posted by ErieBlogs on July 6, 2008
The weather has been gorgeous all weekend, and luckily, high gas prices haven’t kept people away from state parks across Pennsylvania, including Presque Isle.
Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk, along with several other district attorneys from Pennsylvania, are stepping up to to support fellow district attorneys in another part of the state. Michael Madeira and Peter Johnson, and state Attorney General Tom Corbett are being criticized for not doing enough to pursue the investigation of the disappearance of Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar. Gricar dissappeared in 2005 never to be heard of again, and foul play is suspected behind his disappearance. Both district attorneys critical of how the investigation is being handled are from the same area as Gricar.
Linda Bebko-Jones, former state representative, is negotiating with the state Attorney General’s office hoping to avoid a trial. She is accused of forging signatures on her nomination paperwork. Her chief of staff, Mary Fiolek, also faces similar charges.
Andrea and Alyssa Stelmack and Carrie and Jason Swartout were involved in a scuffle during a peace rally in Edinboro on April 22. They have all agreed to keep their distance and if there are no further incidents, all charges will be dropped.
There’s one last chance to catch some area fireworks. The Movies at Meadville has a dance and fireworks show tonight.
The PA Fish and Boat commission is debating the idea of opening the state’s trout fishing season in several counties, mostly in southwestern areas of the state. Another proposal includes opening trout season year round.
Two separate, but very serious motorcycle accidents, occurred yesterday in Crawford and Venango counties. Douglas Hazleton is seriously injured and had to be life-flighted to Hamot Hospital in Erie, and Matthew W. Mitchell was found dead at the scene of his accident. Commonality? Neither man was wearing a helmet. Since the repeal of the motorcycle helmet law five years ago, the death rate of head injuries from motorcycle crashes has gone up about 30 percent and the number of riders hospitalized for head injuries up by 40 percent.
Lieutenant General James Dubik of Erie will retire after 37 years of service in the United States Army. Dubik was in command of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq and NATO Training Mission-Iraq teams. Prior to that, Helmick was the commanding general of the Army’s Southern European Task Force.
Kara Rhodes at the Times-News has interesting piece on the Lamas Bar and the amount of violence that takes place there, and in the surrounding neighborhood.
The first members of the Erie Hall of Fame have been announced. They are Dr. Gertrude Barber, Harry T. Burleigh, Colonel John Boyd, Captain Daniel Dobbins and Dr. Paul Siple. Lou Tullio demands a recount.
Dave Wasson of Erie has spent 23 years building his self-playing band organ. It’s so big he keeps it in a box truck and drives it around showing it off. There’s a nice story about him here.
For the second straight night, the Baysox struck in a big way as they plated four runs on a grand slam to send the ‘Wolves to their second straight 6-4 loss on Saturday night at Prince George’s Stadium.
Former major leaguer and Seawolves batting coach Pete Incaviglia is now manager of the Grand Prairie AirHogs, an independent team near Arlington, Texas, where Incaviglia played for the Texas Rangers. He said “I’m grateful every day that after a home game, I’m able to go home, hug my wife, kiss my kids and be with them instead of being in Erie, Pennsylvania for eight or nine months.
George Shimpeno and Dale Arndt will participate in the U.S. Transplant Games, taking place this week in Pittsburgh. Shimpeno is a kidney recipient and Arndt received a new heart. Good luck!
Dr. Alejandro R. Gonzalez was elected governor of the Pennsylvania Western Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the national organization of internal medicine physicians. He is adjunct professor of medicine at LECOM.
The 50-member Gem City Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Scott Tomlison, will be performing as part of the City of Erie’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series this Monday, July 7th, at Memorial Park at 26th and State Streets from 7 to 8 pm. This event is free and open to the public.
The 2008 North East Cherry Festival begins next week on Tuesday, July 8, and runs through July 12. Expect lots of food, rides for the kids, the Cherry Queen Pageant and a volunteer fire parade, the largest volunteer fire department parade in Pennsylvania.
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 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.
Eight Great Tuesdays begins July 8th featuring free band entertainment on Tuesday nights at the Pepsi Amphitheatre inside Liberty Park. Teenagers will be allowed to attend the event unaccompanied by an adult, but the Port Authority of Erie reserves the right to revoke that privilege if it believes teens are getting out of control.
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.
The archives at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host an open house on Wednesday, July 9, as part of the kick-off of the college’s yearlong 60th anniversary celebration. The archive comprises three permanent collections: the Behrend Family Collection, the Hammermill Paper Company Collection and the Penn State Behrend Collection.
The Movies at Meadville is sponsoring a free screening of “Happy Feet” on July 10 to support the Creating Landscapes program. Creating Landscapes, a summer celebration of the Allegheny College Dance Studies program, is an interdisciplinary exploration of active learning through the arts and sciences offered to children and teens.
The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will be held at the Cell Block (12th & 13th on State Street) with the performer Joe Buchman & the Crew. The event theme is “Carnival on State,” and benefits MECA United Cerebral Palsy.
Opa! The 20th Annual Panegyri Greek Fest will be held Friday through Sunday, July 11 - 13, at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church on 4376 West Lake Road. The festival features Greek dinners, ala carte entrees, gyros, sausage and souvlaki sandwiches, loukoumades, pastries, continuous Greek music by Kakias Family Band, Greek folk dance groups, boutique, souvenirs, gold mart, Greek metal arts, kafenio/taverna, church tours, not to mention a raffle to win a trip to Greece for 2. Free parking and admission. For more info call (814) 838-8808.
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 Erie County Historical Society will hold a Ghosts and Legends Tour tonight every Friday at 8 p.m., now until September 26 (exceptions: July 4th and September 5th). Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie through a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. Since size of group tour is limited, reservations required; call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.
The Technology Council of Northwest Pennsylvania’s next lunchtime learning series will take place on July 17 at the Ambassador Conference Center on upper Peach street. The presentation, Engage the Crowd: Integrating Social Networking into your Business, will explore uses for social networking in business. The session is free for Technology Council members and $40 for non-members.
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.
Parents of Autistic Children will be holding a golf tournament on July 24 at Whispering Woods Golf Course. The format will be a 4-man scramble, with team prizes and individual prizes (longest drives, closest to the pin, etc). The fee is $100 and includes your golf, a cart, lunch, and dinner.
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.
“Remembering Janis” will run June 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.
The guys at Should I Drink That (SIDT) are holding a giveaway for 2 tickets (and other prizes) to the first annual Beer on the Bay Festival which will be held Saturday, July 26. The festival features the fine beer of the Erie Brewing Company and 25 other regional craft brewers along with great food and live music at Erie’s Pepsi Amphitheater on the bayfront.
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.
Minneapolis based duo Beatrix JAR returns to the Erie Art Museum,offering interactive events throughout the week beginning July 29, 2008 thru August 2, 2008. At each event, Beatrix JAR will present their unique stylings,including their most noted use of circuit bending verse traditional instrumental usage.
A fundraising event for the Lindsay Graygo Empowerment Scholarship Fund will be held Wednesday, August 13 from 5-8 p.m. at Molly Brannigans. Celebrity bartenders will serve up your favorite drinks and a Chinese auction will be held. Bartender tips and auction proceeds will go to directly to the fund. If you would like to make a donation, please visit the Scholarship’s donation page.
The 2008 City of Erie Recreation Tennis Tournaments will be held once again at
Frontier Park. Adults: August 13-17 (session for juniors has passed). 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.
Erie to host young professionals from across the state at Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference ERIE, PA — Young professionals, business executives and civic leaders from across the state are invited to take part the Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference, being held Sept. 12-14 at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. This marks the first year the ImPAct Conference (Innovative Minds Creating Pennsylvania’s Tomorrow) will be held in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Posted by ErieBlogs at July 6, 2008 8:00 AM
Comments
Please state all the fact re motorcyle helemts, the number of riders has also increased, So the true numbers have not changed, plus it my choice I have insurance thus it my freedom, I have been rideing for over 30 years, with and without ,and I truely am safer I as can see and hear the idots in cars that dont see me
Thanks
Posted by: George at July 6, 2008 3:19 PM
George,
The additional fact is this: "Even after accounting for increases in motorcycle registrations that occurred during this period, study authors noted a 32 percent increase in head injury deaths and a 42 percent increase in head injury-related hospitalizations." (Source.) In other words the increase in riders was accounted for. So yes, the true numbers have changed despite your assertion.
Nothing in the news item published above questions the freedom of choosing not to wear a helmet. We just stated the facts. However, it's obvious that choosing not to wear a helmet is a bad decision (just as not using a baby seat for an infant or not using a seat belt traveling 70 m.p.h.). In my opinion the repeal of the motorcycle helmet law was a bad idea.
Posted by: Rich at July 6, 2008 4:40 PM
I know that accidents without helmets are terrible for the blood supply. There is a CRITICAL shortage of blood in our region ( Life Star flies with O Negative blood on every mission) and I cringe every time I hear about this kind of accident. If you're a biker we'd appreciate it if you could donate blood to make sure these other bikers get the blood they need. Thanks
Posted by: Dan Desrochers--Community Blood Bank at July 6, 2008 4:52 PM
My brother had the freedom to use helmet or no helmet. He chose to ride free. He was a safe motorcyclist, but a car stopped ahead of him for unknown reasons. He veered left to avoid them in a rear crash, and the bike skidded.
The only way to stop was to repeatedly bounce his head on Highway 41. In doing so, he peeled of his skull pretty good. Banging the brain against the skull repeatedly really fouls things up inside. Ask a doctor.
There were seconds left to decide at the hospital. My sister-in-law was faced with "save him" or "let him go" and had 30 seconds to decide. She had 3 children with my brother. She chose save him.
The parts left on the highway include his ability to taste or smell. His job involved chemicals and the job was now impossible (forever). Sweat glands are no longer in any control and operate at will. Emotions fly at random; and you get to reprogram "you" from scratch in many cases.
Traumatic brain injury is coming into awareness from returning Vets having it so much (a new helmet is being designed by the NFL for Vets in combat to protect them --- hint!).
The insurance can be debated forever (rates go up for everybody for some people to have freedom to ride unprotected) , but the money means little to a young girl whose father is out of her life, for all intents and purposes.
My brother did retain the gift of laughter.
Ordinarily, that would be good.
But when a laugh comes forth at an inappropriate moment, do you get thankful for the laughter at all, or, do you sit there and realize that none of this had to be.
A good resource for your family after you have brain injury doing this riding without a helmet is http://tbihome.org/
Give this link to them BEFORE you go out on the road. YOU won't be reading it. Your family will in coping with the loss of a spouse, dad, friend, brother, uncle,...or female counterpart who rides with no helmet.....but manages to live after.
Posted by: Danny Lucas at July 6, 2008 5:36 PM
I worked a wedding reception this past weekend in Canandaigua, NY. All along the thruway and into the Rochester, NY area, gas prices were on average $4.27-$4.31 a gallon. I'll take $3.98 anyday!
Posted by: John Gallagher at July 6, 2008 10:06 PM
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