Erie PA Today News, Events and Info for today, Monday, November 17, 2008

The Erie area got hit with a bit of snow. It's very heavy, wet snow, almost slush. The usual area got the worst of it - south of I-90, from I-79 to the east. Harborcreek Christian School is closed. On 2 hour delays are Fort LeBoeuf, Corry, Wattsburg area, and General McLane schools.

Mike Machuga captured the Chameleon Championship at Taylor Lanes, the fourth stop on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. No 5 seed Michael Machuga of Erie, Pa struck out in the 10th frame to narrowly defeat No 1 seed Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa, 209-204, to win his second title in his eight year PBA career. Machuga climbed the ladder as the No 5 seed, defeating No 4 Sean Rash of Wichita, Kansas, 196-190, No 3 Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, 245-188, No 2 Wes Malott of Argyle, Texas, 221-210 to advance to the championship match. Machuga advanced to Sunday’s televised finals as the No 5 seed. The original telecast was originally scheduled to be a four-man stepladder finals, but due to a scoring malfunction during Friday’s Round of 16 match play, the PBA decided to change the televised format to a five-man stepladder finals. Machuga’s last title was the 2005 Greater Omaha Classic in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

All Pennsylvania TV stations are doing a one minute digital test today at 6:25 pm to allow viewers to see if their TVs are ready for digital television. This should be fun. There are a lot of clueless people out there. If you have cable, satellite or a digital TV, you're OK.

Teresa Murtland has rejoined WJET-TV on a part-time basis. Murtland is Exexcutive Director of Africa 6000 International. She did a *great* series recently on her non-profit for the station with some stunning images of Africa. Good for the station and good for those of us that missed her.

The US Border Patrol, Erie Station is looking for a new home. They currently have about 2 dozen agents in Erie and will be getting more next year. They're outgrown their home in the Cruise Boat Terminal at 1 Holland Street in Erie.

Gannon University students, faculty, and staff will spend this week working to combat hunger while also raising money for local agencies. The University will observe Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week through a series of events, including a Box City in which students, faculty, and staff will – at least for one day – go “homeless” to raise money. Organizers are hoping to raise $1,500 throughout the week, which will be split among four local agencies: the Booker T. Washington Center, Erie DAWN, Mercy Center for Women, and Second Harvest Food Bank.The schedule for the week is:
Monday, November 17 – Students voluntarily can donate the cost of a meal from their normal meal plan to Oxfam America. Students will be able to sign up to make the donation in the Beyer Hall cafeteria from 11 am to 1 pm and from 4:30-6 pm.
Tuesday, November 18 – Tuesday is another opportunity for students to sign up to donate the cost of a meal to Oxfam America. The times for Tuesday also will be from 11 am to 1 pm and from 4:30-6 pm. All students choosing to support Oxfam America in this way will skip a meal on Friday.
Also on Tuesday, November 18, students can attend a Global Banquet, scheduled for 5 pm in the Yehl Room of the University’s Waldron Campus Center, 124 West 7th St. By having students participate in a poverty simulation, the banquet is designed to educate them on issues like world hunger, poverty, and fair trade. It specifically will reinforce the inequities among nations in terms of wealth and hunger.
Thursday, November 20 – The University will set up its annual Box City from 8 am to 4 pm in AJ’s Way, a popular campus thoroughfare located between West 7th-8th streets, just west of Peach Street. Gannon University students, faculty, and staff will volunteer to go “homeless” for at least an hour by taking up residence in a cardboard box. The volunteers will collect donations from passersby.
Friday, November 21 – “Fast for a World Harvest:” students who elected to donate the cost of a meal to Oxfam American will skip the meal today. Also, from 11 am to 1 pm, students can stop by a table in the Waldron Center to write to Congress about the Millennium Development Goals through the In My Name campaign. In the year 2000, governments from around the world came together and agreed upon eight goals to help end poverty. The Millennium Development Goals cover crucial areas such as access to education and healthcare, reduction in maternal mortality, and access to food. Governments promised to achieve most of these goals by 2015, and each goal has a number of specific targets. Also on Friday, November 21, students can participate in a celebratory and educational Fair Trade Coffee House Night from 7-9 pm in the upper lounge of the Student Services Building, 111 West 5th Street. Attendees can sample fair trade coffee and chocolate and learn more about fair trade while enjoying music and poetry. Free-will donations will be welcomed.

Senior Sarah Powell scored two goals to lead the No 17 Mercyhurst College women’s soccer team into the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship Third Round with a 3-0 victory over Slippery Rock Sunday afternoon at Mercyhurst Soccer Field.

The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team pulled away from UNC-Pembroke in the second half, posting a 92-79 victory to claim the championship at the Davis and Elkins Tip-Off Tournament Sunday. Mercyhurst had four players score in double-figures on the evening. The Lakers (2-0) were led offensively by junior transfer Elliot Engelmann, who scored a game-high 25 points and added nine rebounds. Junior transfer Nnamdi Nnadili scored 19 points and claimed the tournament MVP trophy for his efforts over the weekend.

The Gannon women’s basketball team (2-0) put five players in double digits and shot over 50 percent for the second consecutive game Sunday afternoon en route to a 71-65 victory over Fairmont State during the final day of Concord University’s Lady Lion Classic. Gannon picked up two regional victories during the classic, including Sunday’s decision over Fairmont State. The Fighting Falcons, an NCAA Tournament participant last season and among others receiving votes in the USA Today ESPN Preseason Poll, was picked No 1 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Preseason Coaches Poll. Brittany Tabron (Canton, Ohio/ Canton Central Catholic) led Gannon’s offensive unit with 17 points. Allison Rothlisberger’s (New Martinsville, WVa/ Magnolia) finished with 15 markers. Kim Vargas (Sterling, Va/ Broad Run), Carrie Nolan (Girard, Pa/ Girard), and Julie Kleber (Suffern. NY/ Suffern) added 10 points each.

Sophomore Kat Zimmerly (Edinboro, Pa/ General McLane) won all-region honors in leading Ohio Wesleyan at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional championship cross country meet. Zimmerly finished 23rd among individuals. Junior Claire Everhart (Edinboro, Pa/ General McLane) finished in 44th place for Ohio Wesleyan.

The PIAA Class AAAA subregional football payoff game between Erie McDowell and State College will be held at 1 pm on Saturday November 22 at DuBois’ EJ Mansell Stadium.


Gannon University's Schuster Gallery hosts the exhibit, "The Art and the Artist," through Jan 16, 2009. The exhibit will feature the work of Vitus J Kaiser, a member of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Artist Association and a longtime art teacher in the Erie School District. An artist's reception will be held from 3-6 pm Sunday, Nov 16. It is free and open to the public. The exhibit will feature about 50 watercolors that depict mostly outdoor scenes. Schuster Gallery is located on the third floor of the University's Nash Library, 619 Sassafras St, and is open during regular library hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 am to midnight; Friday, 8 am to 9 pm; Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm; and Sunday 12:30 pm to 12 am. Access to the gallery is FREE and open to the public. For more information on the exhibit, contact Gannon's Schuster Program for the Arts at (814) 871-5467.

Gannon University's Office of Graduate Studies will hold an Open House from 3:30-6 pm Tuesday, Nov 18 on the third floor of the Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach St. Attendees can learn more about academic programs and talk with faculty and program directors. For more information, contact Graduate Admissions at (814) 871-7474, or toll free at 1-800-GANNON-U.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) - a data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data - is rapidly becoming essential to supply-chain management. Adoption of the technology is growing at an annual rate of 46 percent. Now is the time to implement RFID into your business. The Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA) offers quality, affordable RFID training delivered by expert instructors from the RFID Center of Excellence at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College. Two half-day courses - 'Introduction to RFID' and 'RFID Integration Management Strategies' - on the same day at the Penn State Behrend, Research and Economic Development Center (REDC) in Erie, PA on Tuesday, November 18. Cost: $49 per half-day session ($98 for both sessions). Register today.

Chef William from CBS will appear at the Brewerie at Union Station 5-7 pm on Tuesday, November 18 to promote his new recipe book "From My Kitchen To Yours." He'll do book signings too. Books are priced at $20.

Many communities and individuals in Northwest PA are frustrated by the lack of high speed Internet access. The Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) program is producing results in helping many communities obtain high-speed Internet access, but is it producing results fast enough? How sustainable are the results of the BFRR program? What could we be doing, individually and as a region, to become more effective in developing broadband infrastructure to serve our homes, businesses, and communities? Please join the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission on Wednesday November 19 to explore these issues in results-oriented detail. All attendees will receive a "BFRR Took Kit" for going directly back to their communities and starting or completing a successful Bona Fide Retail Request for DSL service. The event is FREE. To Register emal name, organization, email address, and telephone number to Randy Rice or call (814) 677-4800 ext 100.

Dr James Kurre, associate professor of economics at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College and director of the Economic Research Institute of Erie, will be the guest speaker at the Manufacturer and Business Association's November Eggs 'n' Issues briefing starting at 8 am Thursday, November 20 at the Association's Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street at Pittsburgh Avenue. Kurre's presentation will center on the 2009 Economic Outlook, focusing on northwest Pennsylvania. His areas of specialization include the Erie economy, regional economics, economic development, spatial cost of living differences and philanthropy research. His work has been published in Economic Development Quarterly, Regional Studies and the Pennsylvania Economic Review. "Our members always look forward to Dr Kurre's presentation at this time of year," said Association President Ralph Pontillo. "But with the economic turmoil we have all seen in the past several months, coupled with the recent election, Dr Kurre's comments are of particular interest." To register for this briefing, contact Tracy Shepard at (814) 833-3200 or (800) 815-2660. Cost is $30 for members, $60 for nonmembers.

In a relationship, who will be the first to be unfaithful? The question that playwright Pierre Marivaux explored in an 18th century garden plays out in a modern genetics laboratory in the upcoming Studio Theatre production of “The Dispute.” The updated setting also allows Chrystyna Dail, new director of the Studio Theatre at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, to add a second layer of inquiry to the dark comedy: When and how is it ethical to use human beings as scientific guinea pigs? “The Dispute” is appropriate for children over the age of 13. The 7 show run in the Studio Theatre at Penn State Behrend. Evening productions also will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Nov 18-20. Tickets are $7 ($5 for students) and may be reserved at the Reed Union Building main desk by calling (814) 898-6242.

All An Act Theatre Productions presents “Caught in The Net”, the hilarious sequel to "Run For Your Wife!", at their new home in Columbus Square, 652 West 17th Street in Erie, PA. Performances will be held Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm through December 6 with special matinee shows on Sundays at 3 pm on November 23, 30 and December 7. Tickets: adults $8 and student, seniors $5.

Gannon University's Dahlkemper School of Business Administration will host an informational workshop for high school students who are considering majoring in business. The Business Day workshop will be held from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Friday, Nov 21. It is open to high school juniors and seniors and their parents and is designed to help them answer questions such as: What type of career do I want to pursue? Is business administration the right "fit" for me? What will the job market be like after I graduate from college? What can I expect in terms of career opportunities? Depending on my interests, what salary range can I expect? Will the college or university I attend help me secure an internship? Throughout the day, students and their parents will be able to meet with graduates of Gannon's Dahlkemper School as well as current business majors and faculty members. Students also will be able to participate in an interactive workshop on the many and varied business programs Gannon offers, such as accounting, advertising communications, finance, international business, management, marketing, risk management/insurance, and sports management and marketing. In addition, families will be able to meet with representatives from the University's Office of Financial Aid and tour the campus. For more information or to register for the free event, call 814-871-7566 or send e-mail to gubusiness@gannon.edu.

The Zone Dance Club Think Pink - Breast Cancer Weekend will be held November 21-22. Show your support and come join in at the Zone Dance Club for a weekend of awareness and fun as they help raise money for a great cause. Friday - the Zone Divas and a few special guests will host the Pretty in Pink Benefit Show. Bring your dollar bills and tip them well. Saturday is the Zone's Pretty in Pink Party. Wear pink and black and join us for a night of dancing and fun. We will also be having a Pink Chinese Auction and Pink Bake Sale with items donated by the local community. Help raise money and awareness for a great cause. Think Pink! Phone: (814) 452-0125.

The Community Shelter Services Can Drive will be held on November 22 from 10 am to 8 pm at at the entrance to Wal-Mart on Elm Street in Erie. To help out or find out more information, visit Wal-Mart on November 22 or call 814-455-4369 ext 2 or email Denise.

Gannon University will host a series of free workshops designed to help high school students and their parents better navigate the sometimes complex financial aid process. The first workshop will be offered at 10 am Saturday, Nov 22. It is free and open to the public and will be held in room 1200 of the University's Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach St. The informational session will include an overview of the entire financial aid process, including a step-by-step review of the questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It also will cover: Definitions of terms parents and students should know; Explanation of the aid programs available; and Tips on how to apply and the application process. The workshop also will be offered on the following times and dates: 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009; 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009; and 10 am on Saturday, April 18, 2009. All sessions will be held in room 1200 of the Palumbo Center. For more information, contact Gannon's Financial Aid Office, (814) 871-7337 or 1-800-GANNON-U.

The Holiday Art Trail will be held 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, November 22. Five local art galleries are participating in this FREE event, in Cambridge Springs, PA - Kelly Run Gallery, Enlightened Glass, and the Stonewall Gallery at the Campbell Pottery Store; in Edinboro, PA - Catwater Who Signature Gallery and Eclectic Etceteras Coffee House. Visit all 5 Galleries for a chance to win $125 in gift certificates. All Gallery Events are FREE and open to the public. Refreshments will be served at all locations.


Africa 6000 International second annual Project Water Dinner Gala will be held November 22 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA. Click here for the dinner registration form, fill it out and mail it out with your check, money order or credit card information to Africa 6000 International, 2425 West 23rd Street, Erie, PA 16506. The goal of Africa 6000 International is to provide clean, safe water throughout the continent of Africa helping to prevent the premature deaths of over 6,000 children daily.

"Once Upon a Time", Victorian Holidays 2008 will be displayed in the Erie Historical Society Watson-Curtze Mansion, at 356 West Sixth Street in Erie, November 22 through December 28. It includes traditionally decorated trees, seasonal workshops for children and adults, lectures, and elegant Victorian teas. Wednesday - Saturday 11 am - 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm. Museum Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $2 Children.

The Saint Vincent Auxiliary Festival of Trees takes place Nov 26-30 at the Ambassador Conference Center in Erie. See 50 professionally decorated Christmas trees and the Christmas marketplace. Cost is $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids.

The Marine Corps Reserve Erie Toys For Tots program is asking for your help. Their goal this season is to make sure that every child in northwestern Pennsylvania has a gift to open on Christmas. Please help by donating new, unwrapped toys at the Millcreek Mall November 28-30 and December 6-7. You can also donate at any one of their designated drop off locations.

The Warner Winter Wonderland Art and Craft Show will be held 10 am-5 pm on Saturday November 29 and noon-5 pm on Sunday November 30 at the Warner Theater in downtown Erie. Free, guided tours of the theater, chinese auction, pictures with Santa, refreshments, free parking. Save $1 off admission with a food donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Adults $3, seniors $2, children 12 and under FREE.

Join the Erie Playhouse as they celebrate the American Girl tradition with lunch and an American Girl Holiday show! The event will be held at St Peter Cathedral Center Cafeteria on November 30 starting at noon. In addition to the "American Girl" holiday musical revue, there will be several raffles and auctions taking place throughout the afternoon. Some of the raffle and auction prizes include: American Girl accessories, Mia doll and "meet" accessories. Silent auction items include Kirsten and her collection (valued at $1,000), Molly and her collection (valued at $1,000). - silent auction bids start at $400. Tickets $20 per person. Tables of eight (8) available for $120. For more information, please call Almitra Clerkin at (814) 454-2852 ext 8. Purchase Tickets online.

Nuncrackers - The Nunsense Christmas Musical comes to the Erie Playhouse this holiday season. Performances will be held December 4-7, 10-14, 18-21. It stars the nuns you love plus Father Virgil and some of Mt. Saint Helen's most talented students. This show is filled with "Nunsense" humor, some of your favorite carols, a "Secret Santa," and an uproarious take on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet. Nuncrackers will make you laugh and maybe tug at your heartstrings. It's the perfect way to insure your holiday season is merry and bright. Tickets go on sale November 10.

Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra annual Christmas Concert Sing-Along with the St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Children’s Choir and choral director Sharon Downey will be held Friday, December 5 at 7:30 pm at St Patrick Church, 130 East 4th St. The performance is free and open to the public.

War At The Shore IV will be held on Friday, December 12 at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena. The very popular dual wrestling meet features youth, high school and college teams. Buy tickets online. Schedule: Youth - Noon to 4:30 pm; 5 pm - Harborcreek vs North East, McDowell vs General McLane; 6:45 pm - Erie Cathedral Prep vs Penn Trafford, Pine Richland vs Lockport, NY; 8 pm - Fort Leboeuf vs Burrell, Gannon University vs Mercyhurst College.


Erie’s seventh annual TubaChristmas concert will take place on Saturday, December 13, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The performance begins at 12:30 pm and is FREE and open to the public. A cookie reception will follow. (Cookies!) As its name implies, TubaChristmas is songs of the season interpreted by a choir of tuba and euphonium performers under guest directors Gary Viebranz, director of instrumental ensembles at Penn State Behrend; Daniel Burdick, associate professor of low brass at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; and Lowell Hepler, director of bands at Allegheny College. All student, amateur, and professional low brass musicians are invited to join the performance; rehearsals will be held on site that morning. To register for the performance, contact Viebranz at (814) 898-6289 or e-mail gav3@psu.edu. Tuba Christmas debuted at Rockefeller Center’s ice rink in 1974 as a tribute to the late tuba legend William J Bell, who was born Christmas Day 1902. The event has since grown to the point that it is held in 200-plus cities each year. TubaChristmas is produced by the Harvey Phillips Foundation; the Erie performance is supported by the Mary Behrend Cultural Fund.

The Lake Erie Ballet annual production of "The Nutcracker" will be held at the Warner Theatre in downtown Erie, PA December 19-21 with guest artists Michele Gifford of NYCB and Matthew Prescott of the Joffrey Ballet with live orchestra. Buy tickets online here.


The 26th edition of the McDonald's High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie on Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17, 2009 at Gannon University's Hammermill Center. This year's event features nationally renowned programs from Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, DC, complete with many top-ranked players. The field includes Archbishop Carroll from Washington, DC, Westbury Christian from Texas, defending Pennsylvania state champ Chester High School, and host Erie Cathedral Prep. The best possible way to acquire reserved tickets to the Classic, scaled at $12.50 per night, is to purchase an Erie Area Metro season ticket, while supplies last. That can be done in the Prep athletic office beginning on Monday, November 17. General admission tickets cost $7 per night in advance for adults and $5 in advance for students, and are on sale now. Any remaining reserved tickets will also be on sale beginning on Wednesday, December 3 at the Cathedral Prep athletic office. General Admission tickets will be available on the same date at the Erie Sport Stores, Dee's News, and select McDonald's Restaurants while they last. No phone orders will be accepted, and no tickets can be held. Another sell-out crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early.