Are you still waiting for someone to help you improve your neighborhood? Learn how you can bring about the changes you want at the Erie Citizen’s City Planning Academy.
The Erie Citizen’s City Planning Academy is a FREE, five-week course designed especially for people interested in making their neighborhoods a better place.
The course is a mini City Planning 101 that includes important issues that affect your neighborhood such as zoning, housing, retail, transportation, and neighborhood planning.
Graduates will have a better understanding of how to begin the process of neighborhood revitalization and will be better prepared to positively influence development in their neighborhoods.
The course will be held on Tuesday evenings beginning on Tuesday, March 6th and ending on Tuesday, April 2nd. The classes will be between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the campus of Mercyhurst University.
Guest lecturers include experienced city planners, small business owners, housing specialists, attorneys, and local government officials.
Seating is limited, so please contact Heidi Miles at the Erie Neighborhood Watch Council Monday — Friday at 454-3808 or send an e-mail to Tom Maggio at citizenplanningacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
The Planning Academy is free of charge as a result of generous funding by the Erie Community Foundation and a donation by Mercyhurst University.
       Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri will announce and demonstrate new enhancements to the ErieAlert.com website on Wednesday July 20, 2011 at the offices of Paragon MediaOne, 3036 W. 26th St., Erie, PA 16506 at 10:00 A.M.
       “I am excited about the new additions to our website”, says Daneri. “We have been looking long and hard at ways the District Attorney’s Office can become a community policing facilitator, developing better lines of communication among Erie County citizens and law enforcement. The ErieAlert website certainly provides an avenue that can bridge the gap between citizens and law enforcement we see currently. We now have the ability to post pertinent information needed by the community, as well as sending critical information to every law enforcement officer in Erie County for their knowledge and/or possible action.”
       “The newly enhanced website can be a very powerful tool if the public and law enforcement choose to become active participants”, says Chief County Detective Larry Dombrowski. “Our partners, EngageIT and Paragon MediaOne, have helped us create a truly comprehensive website. I would encourage residents, community leaders, and law enforcement to view the website regularly and actively share information. The more engaged people become, the bigger impact we’ll have on crime. Emails links are listed on the website and anonymous tips can be made through the Erie County Crimestoppers section.”
       A handout will be available at the press conference to help members of the media navigate the website.
ErieAlert. Com Highlights
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ErieAlert.com is a county community website created the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from EngageIT and Paragon Mediaone, to provide a comprehensive communications venue applicable to law enforcement, municipal and state governing bodies, and all Erie County citizens. To accomplish such a monumental task ErieAlert.com provides these valuable functions.
Crime related news via district Attorney press releases and the current alerts portal
A searchable database of court related hearings, bond revocations, bench warrant reviews, sentencings, scheduled pleas, etc.
Searchable database of shots fired in the City of Erie and Erie County.
Searchable database of property stolen within the county to assist victims in locating and retrieving the stolen property.
A listing of significant criminal convictions obtained by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office
Nominations sent by the public for Police Officer Of The Month
Information about the District Attorney’s Office, County Detective Bureau, and office contact information
Frequently asked court related questions
Community pride in police officers via the Police Officer of the Month video and voting sections
Crimestoppers Reward section where anonymous tips can be sent to law enforcement
Police Museum where citizens can pay tribute to family members who chose to protect and serve the Erie County community by being law enforcement officers
A real-time Twitter ticker that shows police and fire information in Erie County at a glance
An immediate email notification system to ALL Erie County Law Enforcement officers to advise them of new laws, caselaw, emergency notifications, criminal intelligence information, missing persons, and Be on Lookout (BOLOS).
District Attorney Warns Craigslist Rental Scam Hits Erie Market
District Attorney Jack Daneri has issued a warning about a Craigslist scam that has been used in other areas and has now hit the Erie County area. The scam usually involves fake rental listings with a rental price that is too good to be true.
“The scam,” says Daneri, “usually involves a cut and paste of a property listing from a local realtor of a home that is for sale. The scammer then posts the property on Craigslist as a rental property with a low rent asking price. Phone numbers or email addresses are usually listed for contact purposes. The scammer is always from out of the Erie area, and asks for first and last month’s rent and a security deposit to be sent to him/her. A variation of the scam may ask potential renters to fill out a rental application with questions about personal information such as date of birth, social security number, employment history and even bank account numbers. In all cases the scammer is simply trying to steal a person’s hard earned money or identity.”
Craigslist.com website offers some very good rules of thumb to avoid be the victim of a scammer.
Deal locally with folks you can meet in person – follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts on Craigslist.
Never wire funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service – anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
Fake cashier checks and money orders are common, and banks will cash them and then hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
Craigslist is not involved in any transaction, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer “buyer protection” or “seller certification”
Never give out financial information (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
Avoid deals involving shipping or escrow services and know that only a scammer will “guarantee” your transaction.
Do not rent housing without seeing the home, or purchase expensive items sight-unseen - in all likelihood that housing unit is not actually for rent and that cheap item does not exist.
Do not submit to credit checks or background checks for a job or housing until you have met the interviewer or landlord in person.
District Attorney’s Office To Enhance DUI Enforcement Efforts in Erie County
Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri is announcing a cooperative effort with the Erie County DUI Program Inc., and county law enforcement to provide additional tools to make DUI law enforcement more efficient throughout Erie County.
The Erie County DUI Program, Inc. has obtained thumb drives for police officers involved in DUI enforcement on which the Erie County District Attorney’s Office has placed current criminal complaints, search warrant language, statutory and case law for easy access, by simply plugging the drive into an officer’s laptop or mobile data terminal. A special download area on the District Attorney’s secure law enforcement portal called “Cybercop” will contain any new information that can help officers be more effective in DUI enforcement. Officers can simply log on to Cybercop and add, update or replace any information already on the thumb drives on an ongoing basis.
In addition to the ready access thumb drives, each department will also receive a DUI enforcement manual that details each step of the process from detection to prosecution for easy department reference as they prepare their DUI cases for trial.
People who are also interested in laws and working with lawyers and law enforcement to help create beneficial laws can find information about paralegal programs here. Many people are fascinated by laws and see how much they can help people and want to be behind-the-scenes.
This is just another example of our efforts to apply current technology and training to assist state and local law enforcement in being more efficient and effective during difficult budget challenges”, says District Attorney Jack Daneri. “Having ready access to the ever changing legal decisions and legislative changes to criminal and vehicle laws has become an important and valuable tool to every police department and police officer working today. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to be able to work with the Erie County DUI Program, Inc., state and local law enforcement, and assist them in their efforts”.
The DUI thumb drives and Enforcement Manual will be issued to the Chiefs of Police on April 28, 2011 at noon at the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
Our first dog this week is Maddy. Maddy is one of the smaller dogs at the ANNA Shelter, even though they have her pegged as a “rottweiler mix.” Her coloring does remind me of a rottweiler, but her personality, size, and fur? Not so much.
Maddy is very shy around strangers at first, but she warms up to them after a short time. We spent about 15-20 minutes with Maddy and, by the end of our visit, she was sitting on my foot while I gave her chin scratches.
She’s got pretty good athletic abilities and is a very good jumper. But one caveat: Maddy is going to need to be an only dog. Although she gets along with dogs in the shelter and when dogs of potential new owners bring their dogs for a meet-and-greet, once Maddy gets into a home, she wants to rule the roost where other critters are concerned. There have been a couple of attempts at adoption with families who already have dogs, and those would-be new owners have had to return Maddy because of problems with dogs already in the home. The volunteer we spoke with at the ANNA Shelter said the family that recently had to return Maddy were in tears about it. They loved Maddy to pieces, but they also loved the dog they had already had before attempting to adopt Maddy.
Next up, we had Libby. Like many of the strays found as strays and turned into the ANNA Shelter, Libby is a pit mix. And, like most of the pit mixes turned into the ANNA Shelter, Libby is all lover. Libby warms up to strangers immediately and was all about playing. She had a blast playing fetch, but was just as happy to have a nice belly rub.
Finally, we have Wanda. Although my intention here is to feature the dogs that have been at the Shelter the longest, I had to make an exception for Wanda because I absolutely fell in love with her. If I didn’t already have a dog who is dead set on being an only dog, I think I probably would have left the shelter with Wanda by my side.
They have Wanda listed as being a boxer mix and, if that’s true, then I would bet my last dollar that the “mix” part of the equation is French Mastiff (a/k/a Douge de Bordeaux). Remember the movie Turner & Hooch? Well, Wanda looks exactly like a smaller, much less drooly version of Hooch.
She’s a little underweight, but extremely muscular. She loves to run around and play, but was very gentle when I fed her treats. And there was no slobbering involved!
Any one of these dogs, along with all the other critters available for adoption at the ANNA Shelter, would make a wonderful companion. If you have room in your home and your heart for a companion animal, please consider adopting one (or more!) from a shelter instead of buying from a breeder or pet store. As the owner of a shelter dog, I know firsthand how wonderful they can be.
For more information about these and other animals available for adoption, contact the ANNA Shelter.
Erie County District Attorney Using Markham Winery Grant Funds To Create A Virtual Neighborhood Watch
Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri will announce a cooperative effort between his office and the Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies to provide every Erie County citizen with a virtual neighborhood watch alert network tomorrow, March 24, 2011 at 2:15 P.M. at the Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies building at 3928 Wayne St., Erie, PA.
    ”The Markham Winery grant is allowing us to provide scholarship funds to Mercyhurst College students that participate in the monitoring of emergency radio traffic and then post the information to the “ErieAlerts” account on Twitter, where people can follow the activity on their smart phones or computers, says Daneri. This kind of program makes it very easy for each and every citizen of Erie County to become a member of the the neighborhood watch program and enhance our quality of life as one large community”.
So, it appears that Greta from the last Creature Feature has been adopted into a very good home. On my trip to the ANNA Shelter this past Saturday, I ran into Greta very briefly. She had been to the ANNA Shelter for a visit (and her owner was picking up tickets to the Erie Otters March 12th game**. She was getting into her owner’s car as I was arriving. It was a rainy day and Greta was decked out with a pink collar and leash and a pink raincoat. I have a feeling the rest of Greta’s life is going to be pretty sweet.
Inky, on the other hand, is still residing at the shelter. The shelter workers and volunteers think that Inky might be suffering from Big Black Dog Syndrome. Apparently, largish black dogs are notorious for having a problem being adopted.
Although Inky’s exact age is unknown due to the fact that he was a stray, it’s estimated that he’s about one year old. He has been in the shelter since December 21, 2010 and he was neutered about a week after his arrival.
Inky is an energetic and very playful pooch. He loves to play fetch and plays will play with just about any toy you give him. He is very friendly dog and loves attention.
Inky will need some training, but because he’s very food motivated and eager to please, he should be pretty easy to train.
In addition to playing with humans, Inky also loves to play with other active dogs. Tug-of-war is one of his favorites.
Inky’s going to make a great family dog. The only caveat is that he would probably do best in a family with older children as his active nature might be a little too much for toddlers. But, Inky will make a great companion for older kids who like to run and play.
Inky gently takes a treat from a shelter employee.
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New this week, we have Phoebe. Phoebe is approximately 2-3 years old and is a multi-colored terrier mix. Phoebe was also picked up as a stray and has been spayed.
Phoebe has been at the shelter since January 19th and she was spayed in February.
Phoebe loves to play with humans and other dogs, but she can also entertain herself. When we arrived she was very busy lounging on her bed chewing a bone. But she’s also a cuddler and can be very laid back.
Yes, Phoebe has a bit of pit in her lineage, but don’t let that fool you. She will make someone a very loving and gentle companion.
I fed both Inky and Phoebe treats and they both took the tidbits out of my fingers quite gently. Both of them had perky ears (when they were flapping all over while the dogs were running) and wagging tails. And they were adorable frolicking together.
The videos I took didn’t come out too well this time around. It was raining outside on the day I visited the shelter, so we had to play with the dogs inside and, unfortunately, the lighting was not conducive to good video footage. Take my word for it, both of these dogs love to run and play, but they also settle down quite well once everyone around them calms down.
If you’ve got room in your heart and your home for a companion animal, please visit the ANNA Shelter.
The ANNA Shelter also has cats and kittens available for adoption, as well as many dogs in addition to the ones featured here. Oh… and I even heard a Scarlet Macaw in the back, although I didn’t have time this week to go check him out.
** Are you a hockey fan? Or maybe you’ve never been to a game but have always wanted to go? Why not support our local team and the ANNA Shelter at the same time? The ANNA Shelter is selling tickets to the March 12th Erie Otters game v. the Kitchener Rangers. Tickets are just $10, if you buy them at the ANNA Shelter. Proceeds from tickets sold at the shelter will be donated to the shelter.
In an effort to help find homes for animals in shelters, Mike has been kind enough to allow me to start a new “column” here on ErieBlogs and I’ve named it the Creature Feature. As often as possible (maybe monthly, perhaps weekly), I’ll visit the A.N.N.A. Shelter and give readers a smakeral of information about some of the critters available for adoption.
We arrived at the shelter around 11:00 a.m. and the parking lot was full, with about a half dozen overflow cars parked on the street in front of the place. Upon entering, we were greeted by an absolutely gorgeous boxer and her owners. We found out later they were from Buffalo and had driven in to adopt a young brindle boxer from the shelter.
The place was very busy, due in part to the fact that the A.N.N.A. Shelter was having a “rabies clinic,” which allowed pet owners to get their animals vaccinated for a lower cost than most veterinarians charge. It was nice to see so many people making sure their animals were immunized.
For this inaugural post, I wanted to feature a couple of animals that had been in the shelter the longest. Becky, one of the volunteers at the facility, promptly led me to Greta and Inky. Both dogs are medium/large in size, young adults, and have a fun amount of energy.
I was told that both dogs were good with children and I can picture either (or both together?) playing with kids for hours. They were both extremely friendly, had a blast running around in the fenced outdoor area at the shelter, and seemed like they would make great companions.
Also, after running around and playing, both dogs calmed down pretty quickly when they were put back in their pens. Greta, especially (she’d been outside running around with us longer than Inky had been), looked like she was ready for a good nap.
Greta getting a little ear rub:
Greta giving kisses:
Greta and Inky playing tug-of-war:
Playing chase:
Inky frolicking:
Greta and Inky playing tug-of-war:
If you’re looking for a devoted companion animal, please consider a shelter animal. Don’t breed while there are shelter animals in need.
For more information about Greta, Inky, or any of the other great dogs and cats available for adoption, contact the A.N.N.A. Shelter
1555 East 10th Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16511 814-451-0230
Adoption hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am – 1pm Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5pm – 7pm Other adoption appointments can be scheduled as needed.
President Obama will release his budget this week and there will be cuts… cuts that will have an effect on us.
Mr. Obama’s budget would save $300 million by cutting 7.5 percent from the Community Development Block Grant program, which helps local governments pay for housing and sewer and road systems. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, an environmental protection program, would lose about a quarter of its funding, a savings of $125 million.
Norfolk County in southern Ontario, Canada (just across the lake) is working on completing a hiking/biking trail all along the Lake Erie shoreline. Not only do they feel this will help with the tourism industry in the area. And the President of Toyota Canada likes the idea of preserving and enjoying green space. Novel idea, eh?
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A couple of guys attended a Youngstown State University frat party. There was some kind of argument and the two guys were escorted out of the frat house. Apparently unhappy with being kicked out of the party, they returned to the frat house with guns and opened fire on the party-goers through an open door. Twelve people were hit, one of which died.
Councilman Ebert Beeman’s bankruptcy petition was denied by Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Agresti because he failed to include required documentation in his petition. He’ll be refiling his petition.
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U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) opened his northwest region branch office in Erie at the U.S. Federal Building, 17 South Park Row, Suite B-120. The office will be headed by Regional Manager Sheila Sterrett. The northwest region branch office serves Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Clarion, Forest, Warren, McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter counties. You can reach the local office by phone at 453-3010.
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Aero Cat Marine, builders of custom power catamaran boats located in Lake City announced the opening of its new boat repair and restoration company. The new repair facility is named Port Erie Boat Works. Go to: porterieboatworks.com for a good description of the type of services they offer.
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The Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED) at Allegheny College will host a panel discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to explore the potential environmental impacts of the tires-to-energy project that Crawford Renewable Energy has proposed implementing in Crawford County. The discussion will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Carr Hall auditorium.
Speakers will include Conrad Volz, director of the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities and the Environmental Health Risk Assessment Certificate Program at the University of Pittsburgh; Sherrie Mason, associate professor of chemistry and coordinator of the Environmental Sciences Program at SUNY Fredonia; and John K. Baillie, senior attorney with Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), a public interest organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state’s environment and economy. David Templeton, a graduate of Allegheny College who has covered health and science for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette since 2006, will serve as moderator.
Panelists will share scientific information focused on questions related to the proposed plant, which would produce energy by incinerating scrap tires. Those questions include what will be emitted and the impacts on human health and the environment. The panel also will address whether the fluidized bed technology that will be used at the plant represents the best available technology (BAT) and the best available control technology (BCT), as well as the implications of the Tailoring Rule — a controversial EPA policy that shields small polluters from rigid Clean Air Act permitting requirements — especially as it pertains to greenhouse gas emissions for controls at the proposed plant.
“Our goal is to present a balanced and civil discussion to inform decision-makers and the community on this project,” said CEED director Amara Geffen. “A proposal for a project such as the tires-to-energy plant is bound to evoke strong reactions – both for and against – in a community. We want to give our community a scientific foundation against which to frame and assess the discussion.”
Crawford Renewable Energy has proposed building a $337 million facility in Keystone Regional Industrial Park in Greenwood Township. The plant would produce 90 megawatts of electricity — or enough to power approximately 75,000 homes — by shredding and burning 900 tons of scrap tires a day.
The panel discussion is sponsored by CEED at Allegheny College. For more information, contact ceed@allegheny.edu.
The Center for Economic and Environmental Development engages Allegheny College students, faculty and the community in creating innovative approaches to environmental stewardship, environmental education and regional revitalization.
The original deadline for the Erie County Tax Reassessment was to be January 1, 2012. However, it appears that staffing difficulties have lead to the decision to extend the deadline until January 1, 2013. But the joke’s on them. Apparently, they haven’t heard about the world ending on December 21, 2012.
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Kathy Brewer gave birth to her son in a car on the way to a hospital. She and her husband, Nathan, were near Penn State – Behrend when Brewer gave birth and, thus, they named their son Asher Behrend Brewer. Fortunately for the little tyke his parents weren’t in front of Triangle Tech when he was born.
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The City of Erie School District’s new superintendent, Jay Badams, seems to have inherited a budget deficit somewhere in the neighborhood of $26,200,000.  Whoa.
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Anthony Hales has been arrested for the murder of Christina Hulsinger. Hales and Hulsinger lived together in Lake City, Pennsylvania. Hulsinger was found strangled and stabbed in the apartment the two shared.
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I received some information about a new film festival in the area. This one, The Boonies International Film Festival is in Warren, Pennsylvania and will span four days this summer – August 17th to August 20th. For more information, check out the festival’s website.
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According to the Internal Revenue Service, Erie County Councilman Ebert Beeman owes approximately $2,100,000 in back taxes, interest, and penalties dating back to 1994. In an effort to keep the IRS from seizing his property to pay off his debt, Ebert Beeman has filed for bankruptcy protection.
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Presque Isle Partnership (PIP) reminds the public to visit The Nature Shop and Gallery, located in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. According to the The Nature Shop and Gallery Web site, the shop is filled with unique gift items that capture the essence of Presque Isle and showcase the wonders of nature seen every day of the year at beautiful Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie.
Available items include various one-of-a-kind collectibles, beach glass jewelry and art, along with Presque Isle Partnership fine art. Many of these items are made by the region’s finest artisans. There are also educational items and games for kids as well as a variety of books and birding items that can be utilized at Presque Isle State Park. Traditional souvenir items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts and refrigerator magnets are also for sale.
All proceeds from the Nature Shop and Gallery go directly to Presque Isle State Park. Presque Isle Partnership is a non-profit organization unique to the Great Lakes Region and solely supports Presque Isle State Park. The Partnership works year-round to make our Great Park better. Some of the projects the Partnership has developed are the Waterworks Playground, Barracks Beach Windmill, Educational Panels@Perry Monument and the Lighthouse Preservation.
The Nature Shop is located at the Gateway to Presque Isle and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about The Nature Shop and Gallery, call 814.836.9107 or visithttp://www.discoverpi.com/nature-shop-a-gallery
The Presque Isle Partnership is a non-profit organization unique to the Great Lakes Region and solely supports Presque Isle State Park. The Partnership works year-round to make our Great Park Better. Our events and projects do great things for the environment and also make your visit to Presque Isle extra special. If you would like to sponsor an event or help make them happen, call 814.838.5138 or email pip@discoverpi.com for more information. Visit www.discoverpi.com .
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Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Trio Tarana will take the stage at the Erie Art Museum, Friday, March 4, 2011 at 8 p.m. in the Multipurpose room. The indie group, led by percussionist/composer Ravish Momin, mixes violin, cello and percussion, and electronic laptop beats, creating a formula for their unpredictable improvisations.
Tickets are available at the door. $10 for Museum members, $12 for students (with ID) & seniors, and $15 general admission.
The band hosts a workshop, “How to Play Your Laptop,” Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7 p.m in the Multipurpose room. The workshop is free and open to the public, and is geared toward musicians interested in creative technology. Workshop attendees with receive a 2-for-1 voucher to Friday’s performance.
About the Erie Art Museum The Erie Art Museum anchors downtown Erie’s cultural and economic revitalization, occupying a group of restored mid-19th century commercial buildings and a modern, ‘Green,’ 10,500 square foot expansion. The newly expanded Museum marks the first LEED-certified building in the region, soon to be complete with a planted rooftop.
The Museum holds a collection of over 6,000 objects, and maintains an ambitious program of changing exhibitions annually, embracing a wide range of subjects, both historical and contemporary and including folk art, contemporary craft, multi-disciplinary installations, community-based work, as well as traditional media.
For additional visitor information, visit online at erieartmuseum.org or call 814-459-5477.
In case you didn’t catch it live last night, here’s the President’s 2011 State of the Union Address:
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And speaking of what’s going on in our nation’s capitol, H. Daniel Hill, III has been splitting his time between his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania and his new digs in Washington, DC. Hill recently accepted a position as Program Manager at the Executive Education Division of The Brookings Institution. Congratulations, Dan!
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Last night, the monthly meeting of the Erie Neighborhood Watch Council was held, as usual, in the Admiral Room at the Blasco Library on the bayfront. And it was a full house, thanks to a new program spearheaded by the District Attorney Jack Daneri, Chief County Detective Larry Dombrowski, and Stephan Chatman of Weed & Seed in conjunction with the Erie Neighborhood Watch Council.
Remember all those pleading posts I made last year begging you to vote in the Markham Mark of Distinction contest? Well, the District Attorney’s Office’s ErieAlerts Program was one of two winners of a $25,000 grant. The bulk of that grant was used to purchase Direct Connect cellphones that work like walkie-talkies. These special cellphones (they can only be used as a cellphone to dial 911… otherwise, they are used like walkie-talkies to contact the Erie Police Department Officer in Charge, the SAT unit, or the NAT unit) will be distributed to specific neighborhood watch captains (you have to attend a training session before you can be assigned a phone) in areas where there are significant crime problems. Additionally, if there are problems in areas of Erie County that are outside the City of Erie, the cellphones will can also be used by other police departments.
The areas with the most significant crime problems will be assigned the phones and, as problems are alleviated in some areas and crop up in others, the phone distribution will be re-evaluated, which would mean the phone assignments would be changed.
Thanks to everyone who voted in the contest and helped make this grant, and this program, possible.
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If you’re a skier and have ever paid attention to the local ski reports, the name Cockaigne will sound familiar to you.  Although I’ve never slalomed the slopes of Cockaigne, I do remember the name from my days of listening for information on inches of powder and iciness.
Unfortunately, the main lodge at Cockaigne Ski Area in Chautauqua County, NY has been destroyed by fire. A snow plow driver reported seeing flames coming from the back of the building shortly after 10:00 p.m. Approximately 150 firefighters from several local companies worked through the night, but the building is a total loss.
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And speaking of snow, according to Kristen Schuler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Lake Erie is about 90% frozen and, therefore, the Lake Effect snow our region is famous for is a thing of the past… until next year. Although we’re certain to still get more of the white flakes, with the lake frozen, we won’t get the lake effect type storms that can dump so much on us all at once. According to Ms. Schuler, we’re over the hump.
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Allegheny College, one of the nation’s oldest liberal arts colleges, today announced the launch of its Civility Award, which seeks to honor elected officials who showed authentic, courageous civility in an important moment and/or those who have demonstrated steadfast respect for opposing points of view throughout their career.
Nominations are currently being accepted for this inaugural award. Two awards will be given each year — one to a Republican and one to a Democrat.
“We aren’t looking for individuals who sit on the sidelines, away from the fray,” said Jim Mullen, Allegheny College President. “We want to honor passionate partisans on both sides of the aisle, women and men who showed noteworthy civility while continuing to fight for their beliefs and values.”
“Media focus often flocks to the uncivil. But our honorees will model behavior that America dearly wants and needs to see,” said President Mullen. “Allegheny has been working on this initiative for the past year, because our academic research shows America craves greater civility. And because Allegheny has a long tradition of leadership in this important arena.”
All nominations will be examined by a diverse and prominent committee. The Civility Award Committee includes:
Christian Allison, former CEO, Tollgrade Communications and Allegheny College trustee
Molly Corbett Broad, American Council on Education President
Mark Campbell, Ridge Policy Group Partner, former Chief of Staff to PA Gov. Tom Ridge and Allegheny College trustee
Tony Dias, Jones Day Partner
E.J. Dionne, Jr., Washington Post Columnist
Jane Earll, Pennsylvania State Senator
Mark Gearan, Hobart and William Smith College President
Katie Janocsko, Senior Political Science major at Allegheny College and Student Fellow at the Center for Political Participation
Chris Potter, Pittsburgh City Paper Editor
Charles Queenan Jr., K&L Gates Partner
Tim Reeves, Neiman Group CEO, former Press Secretary to PA Gov. Tom Ridge and Allegheny College trustee
Tom Ridge, Former Governor of Pennsylvania
Daniel M. Shea, Allegheny College Professor and Center for Political Participation Director
David Shribman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Vice President and Executive Editor
Eddie Taylor, Oswald Companies Vice President and Allegheny College Board of Trustees Chairman
Dan Thomasson, former Editor, Scripps Howard News Service
Robert Woodworth, Advance Publications Special Advisor, former Publisher and President, Kansas City Star and Allegheny College trustee
The Civility Award Committee will make recommendations to President Mullen. Then, President Mullen and Allegheny College will determine the two winners who will be announced in Washington, D.C. later this year.
The Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College, under the direction of Professor Daniel Shea, has commissioned and analyzed three national surveys to further explore the deterioration of civility in our political processes and, particularly, its impact on voters. In Allegheny College’s March 2010 survey of 1,000 adults from across the country, 95 percent of Americans said that they believe civility in politics is important for a healthy democracy, and 87 percent suggested it is possible for people to disagree about politics respectfully. The most recent survey in November also revealed that 63 percent of Americans feel that the tone in politics is becoming less civil.
“While politicians and experts debate the causes and impacts of the deterioration in political civility, it’s heartening to see that Americans agree coarseness and lack of respect are unacceptable,” said Shea. “This award aims to highlight individuals who are proving that it is possible to speak their mind without being vicious and mean-spirited — even in today’s highly-charged political climate.”
Allegheny College is currently accepting nominations for the 2011 Civility Award. A nomination form, along with more information on the award and Allegheny College’s work on civility in politics, can be found at allegheny.edu/civilityaward.
About Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a national liberal arts college where 2,100 students with unusual combinations of interests and talents develop highly-valued abilities to explore critical issues from multiple perspectives. A selective residential college in Meadville, Pa., Allegheny is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives” and is also featured in “Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You” and Peterson’s “Competitive Colleges, 400 Colleges That Attract the Best and the Brightest,” among many other guidebooks. Allegheny will celebrate its 200th anniversary of learning at its picturesque campus in 2015.
About the Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College
In October 2002 Allegheny College established the Center for Political Participation, a national center dedicated to encouraging greater political involvement among young people by fostering an appreciation for the vital link between an engaged, active citizenry and a healthy democracy. Seeking new strategies and mechanisms for promoting political participation, the Center has established programs for three audiences — Allegheny students (campus activities), scholars nationwide (scholarly research) and citizens of the wider community (educational outreach). In November 2007, the Center founded the Soapbox Alliance, a group of institutions that are committed to ending the practice of holding closed campaign events in campus facilities. Former President Clinton endorsed the Soapbox Alliance in a speech he made at Allegheny on April 19, 2008.
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This February, area natives Phantasm will celebrate their 8th year of making music. Every year, the band, now based in Philadelphia, returns home to put on a few big shows in the area. Last February Phantasm came to town to release their latest album Graph The Pulse. This year they brought some special guests with them.
Kilimanjaro consists of former members of the band As Tall As Lions. Their accomplishments include several nationally released albums on Triple Crown Records and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. On their farewell tour As Tall As Lions sold out shows in Boston, Chicago, and back-to-back shows in New York and LA. Their new project strays from their indie-rock predecessor, to an all instrumental, experimental act. Kilimanjaro relies on improvisation to create music that lets the band “roam freely in the moment.”
Come see Phantasm and Kilimanjaro for a special performance in Erie:
Thursday February 3rd at The Crooked I located at 1013 State Street. Also featuring Erie Locals, Jargonauts. Show starts at 10pm (21+ only)
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yep! will be holding the Second Annual Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction this Saturday, January 29th, at the Rotunda of the Brewerie at Union Station. This year’s auction benefits the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.
The evening will begin at 6:30pm where attendees will have the chance to mingle with the nights auctionees. The auction will begin promptly at 8:00pm with a post-auction party at 10:00pm. The night will also include a silent auction, local celebrities, hors d’ oeuvres, cash bar and a live DJ. Tickets are available online at www.yeperie.org. The cost is $15 for yep! members and $20 for the general public.
The Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation is a group of dedicated individuals supporting ongoing research for the Kanzius Non-invasive Radio Wave Treatment project; a treatment without any side effects. Their mission is to create national and global awareness of the potentials of this treatment and to raise funds to help accelerate the speed at which research progresses. They believe that by acting together in support of continuing research and development, they can make a difference in the lives of people who suffer from this disease.
“We are grateful to this dynamic organization of civic-minded young professionals for selecting us as the beneficiary of the 2011 Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction,” said Cory Vaillancourt, project manager for the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. “Both the Kanzius Foundation and the Young Erie Professionals are as exciting and unique as this event, and we’re proud to work with any organization striving, just as we are, to spread the wave of hope to future generations.“ In addition to his role with the Kanzius Foundation, Vaillancourt will also participate in the event as one of the bachelors to be auctioned.
yep! would like to thank the Kanzius Research Foundation, Connoisseur Media, WJET—TV and the Brewerie at Union Station for all the support they have given to this event.
