Search Erie PA Today Archives

Custom Search
To find a specific term or phrase in a post, use the command Control-F.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Erie PA Today News, Events and Info for today, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy time with your family, eat some turkey and watch the parades and football games. If you're like me when I think of Thanksgiving, I think of the great WKRP in Cincinnati episode where station manager Arthur Carlson comes up with a big idea for a unique holiday promotion involving live turkeys and a helicopter. This episode was named by TV Guide as the 40th greatest in TV history. If you haven't heard of it or seen it, watch the entire classic called "Turkeys Away." For the rest of the day you'll be saying "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."


A fun Erie Thanksgiving tradition is going to the annual Erie Otters hockey game. The Otters face the Belleville Bulls this evening at 7 pm. Tickets.

If you're looking for info on "erie pa black friday sales", you're going to have to go to the web sites for each individual chain. The main shopping district in Erie is along upper Peach Street. If you're Canadian, leave your Canadian quarters at home.

Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott unveiled his preliminary 2009 budget. A big deal was made that for the second year in a row it didn't include a tax increase. With the mayor and all 7 members of Erie City Council being liberal Democrats that think of raising fees and taxes before trying to control expenses, it is at least a surprise. Council will goover the budget at their next meeting in 2 weeks.

A section of West 26th Street in Millcreek Township, a portion of US Route 20 from Peninsula Drive to Powell Avenue, was renamed the John W Groters Memorial Highway. Groters was a partner in the Reffner and Groters Esso Station, located at the corner of West 26th Street and Powell Avenue in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was later the head of transportation for the Millcreek School District. Groters was a volunteer at the West Ridge Fire Department and was the first person to teach first aid to all the volunteer fire departments in Millcreek.

Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, PhD, will confer some 327 degrees at the University’s Winter Commencement Ceremony, to be held Sunday, December 14. The ceremony will begin at 2 pm in Gannon’s Hammermill Center, located at the corner of Peach Street and South Park Row. The graduates include one student receiving a doctor of physical therapy degree, five receiving doctoral degrees, 256 receiving master’s degrees, 59 receiving bachelor’s degrees, and six receiving associate’s degrees. Two students will graduate summa cum laude, six magna cum laude, five cum laude, and four with academic honors. The ceremony’s keynote speaker will be the Very Rev Ronald D Witherup, SS, STL, PhD, Superior General of the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice. He attended Gannon from 1968-70, during which time he resided at St Mark’s Seminary in Erie. Rev Witherup will be awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony. At 11 am on Dec 14, the Gannon University Community will convene for a special Mass at St Peter Cathedral to honor the graduates.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is now accepting creative and academic works for its second annual conference on gender, titled Fortunes of Gender. The two-day conference will be held Feb 12-13, 2009, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center, located in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). The initial deadline for submissions is December 15, 2008. “We encourage applicants to take a bite out of the question, What does the future hold for men and women?,” said Sarah E. Whitney, lecturer in English and program chair for women’s studies. “We’re not looking for a fortune cookie answer, which often just provokes more questions.” Faculty, students and community members in all disciplines are encouraged to submit creative or academic entries that can fall into a range of categories, including but not limited to the following: How gender impacts personal or professional paths to success; Questions of financial wealth and gender equity; Gender and the construction of luck or fate; Gender and narrative in art and society; Predictions for a more gender-equitable future, and pathways to get there; Creating a more fortunate classroom with respect to gender, race, class and sexuality; and The rocky fortunes of romance and sexuality. Submissions can be presented as individual papers, panels, pedagogical roundtables, slide presentations, and artistic works; group entries are welcome. To apply, send an abstract of 250 words or less describing the proposed project by December 15, 2008. Submissions will be accepted via e-mail or US mail. All submissions will remain the property of the screening committee. To submit electronically, title the e-mail “Fortunes Conference Submission (Applicant’s Last Name)” and send to fortunes.conference.behrend@gmail.com. The abstract can be included in the body of the email or as a Word (.doc) attachment. To submit via US mail, send the abstract to: Fortunes Conference Submissions, Penn State Behrend, 170 Irvin Kochel Center, 4951 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563.


The NBA Development League Erie BayHawks announced their final roster cut waiving Raheem Moss (Cleveland State) to get down to the league required roster limit of ten players. The BayHawks regular season roster includes: Tejay Anderson (Youngstown State), Geary Claxton (Penn State), Cliff Clinkscales (DePaul), Erik Daniels (Kentucky), Jarvis Gunter (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Ivan Harris (Ohio State), Oliver Lafayette (Houston), Jackie Manuel (North Carolina), Taj McCullough (Winthrop) and Maureece Rice (George Washington). “This is a good group of guys, who all worked very hard to earn their spot on the (BayHawks) roster,” said coach John Treloar. “We’re excited to take the next step in the process and head out on the road and get the season started.” The BayHawks kick off their inaugural season with a five-game road trip commencing Friday night in Fort Wayne with a game versus the Mad Ants. “LECOM Game Night” is set to air on Rocket 101 (WRKT-100.9 FM) with Chris “Red” Hughes and Brian Graves calling the play-by-play action starting at 7:15 pm. Following the road swing the BayHawks will return to Erie for their home opener versus the Iowa Energy, Thursday, December 11, at 7 pm. The first 1000 fans through the gate will receive a pair of Thundersticks courtesy of the BayHawks and Yourerie.com; and The Cleveland Cavalier Girls dance team will greet fans and perform throughout the evening. Tickets.

Edinboro volleyball coach Missy Soboleski has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, while junior Olivia Williams (Barberton, OH/ Barberton) and freshman Gina Boothe (Cincinnati, OH/ Anderson) have been accorded All-Region honors.

Erie, PA native Mario Cote has 38 points in 28 games playing for the Thorold Blackhawks of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. His father Sylvain Cote played for the Erie Blades and the Erie Golden Blades.

The Gannon men's basketball team, ranked 8th in the latest National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC)/Division II Top 25, opens a nine-game homestand this weekend by hosting the 25th annual Gary Miller Classic. The Golden Knights host Lake Erie Friday, November 28 in the second semifinal at 8 pm. Daemen (NY) and Goshen (Ind) battle in the first semifinal at 6 pm. The consolation and championship games are scheduled for Saturday, November 29 at 6 and 8 pm.

"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 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.

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.

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.

Gannon University will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of one of the most influential Catholic writers of the 20th century with a four part Advent Lecture Series. The series will focus on Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, prolific poet, social activist, and acclaimed author on the subject of spirituality. Merton, a Catholic convert, became a pioneer in interreligious dialogue and one of the seminal figures of 20th century American Christianity. The series, being held on the four Sundays of Advent, will begin at 7 pm on Nov 30 with a lecture by Canadian poet and essayist JS Porter. Porter’s lecture is titled, “Bonding with Readers: Merton’s Voice of Friendship and Intimacy.” Porter is a professor of English at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont. An accomplished author, Porter’s most recent book is titled, Thomas Merton: Hermit at the Heart of Things. The series continues on Dec 7, with a lecture by Mary Anne Rivera, PhD, assistant professor of theology at Gannon, and the director of Gannon’s graduate Pastoral Studies program. Her lecture is titled, “Merton and Jubilee: A Likely Partnership.” The final two lectures in the series and the speakers are: Sunday, Dec 14 – Patrick F O’Connell, PhD, associate professor of English and Theology at Gannon. O’Connell’s lecture is titled, “Awakening in Eden: Thomas Merton and the Return to Paradise.” Sunday, Dec 21 – Bonnie B Thurston, former William F Orr professor of New Testament at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also was a founding member and the third president of the International Thomas Merton Society. Her lecture is titled, “Thomas Merton’s Advent ‘Lessons and Carols.’” All four lectures will begin at 7 p.m in room 219 of the University’s Waldron Campus Center, 124 West 7th St. They are FREE and open to the public. For more information, contact O’Connell at (814) 871-5497.

Reducing costs with energy efficient lighting, as well as control technologies and strategy, are two topics the Energy Roundtable will tackle during their next quarterly meeting from 9 am to noon Thursday, December 4, at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie PA. Registration begins promptly at 8:45 am. To register, call (814) 456-6299, fax (814) 459-6058 or e-mail jmiller@nwirc.org. There is no charge for the event.

When a star explodes, "it wakes up the neighbors," says Dr Darren Williams, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. "If a star in the Big Dipper detonated at a safe distance - say, 80 light years from Earth - the light show would be both spectacular and dangerous. A single exploding star radiates the energy of a hundred billion Suns, and is bright enough to be seen within galaxies located billions of light years from Earth." This infrequent but dazzling phenomenon will be the subject of the next Open House Night in Astronomy at the college. Williams will present "Cosmic Cataclysm: Why Do Stars Explode?" at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Dec 4, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. His non-technical lecture is FREE, open to the public, and suitable for children ages 8 and up. Astronomical viewing from the college's Mehalso Observatory will follow, weather permitting. Williams also will discuss the different ways that stars burn out, and the long history of observation of these brilliant occurrences. Open House Nights in Astronomy are a public-service outreach of Penn State Behrend's School of Science. For additional information about Williams' program, phone (814) 898-6105.

Gannon University's Schuster Theatre will present "A Tuna Christmas" December 4-6, 11-14. Ridiculous characters from the insane town of Tuna, Texas compete in an over-the-top seasonal decorating contest. The production does include some mature language. All performances will begin at 8 pm; Sunday matinees are at 2 pm. Gannon University's Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras St. Ticket prices for the general public are $5. For more information, contact the Theatre at (814) 871-7493 or at (814) 871-7720.

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.

Galleries throughout downtown and around town usher in the holiday shopping season with a holiday edition of Gallery Night on Friday, December 5, from 7-10 pm. Perry Square and State Street light-up for the holidays at 6 pm and entertainment as well as a visit with Santa are planned for the concourse of the Boston Store. Accents By The Bay, Allen Stoneware Gallery, Artworks, Bayfront Gallery, Cummings Gallery at Mercyhurst College, Geary's Studio 7 Gallery, Glass Growers Gallery, Kada Gallery, Ralph Miller Jewelers and Gallery, Urraro Gallery and the galleries at the Erie Art Museum will host Gallery Night. Participating galleries will be offering visitors a chance to win a $50 gift certificate as an incentive to attract patrons into touring their galleries.

Gannon University's annual Social Work Club Christmas Dinner and Wellness Fair aims to make the Holiday season a little brighter for those who otherwise may not have much to celebrate. The always-popular event, which includes a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, is expected to attract an even bigger crowd this year partially because of the ongoing economic downturn. Organizers plan to serve close to 1,000 meals at the dinner, to be held Sunday, Dec 7 in the University's Hammermill Center, Peach and South Park Row. Doors will open at 10 am, and meals will be served from 11 am to 1 pm. Santa will come to visit with children at 12 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public, and free clothing will be available to all attendees. Another important aspect of the event is a Wellness Fair. Representatives from local agencies will be on hand to meet with attendees and distribute information. Participating agencies include the Booker T Washington Center, Youth Development Center, Community Health Net, GECAC (division on Aging), and Gaudenzia Crossroads. The Christmas Dinner and Wellness Fair, now in its 31st year, is a Gannon tradition in keeping with the University's Mission of service to one's neighbor. For example, the event is made possible through the many volunteer hours that Gannon students, faculty, and staff spend prior to the event sorting through box upon box of donated clothing. During the dinner, they generously give of their time cooking and serving meals and handling many other duties.

The Gem City Concert Band Holiday Concert will be held at 7:30 pm on Monday, December 9 at St Johns Lutheran Church, 2216 Peach Street. Admission is FREE.

Businessman P Kelly Tompkins will address "Creating a Culture of Trust: Conflict of Interest and Business Ethics" at a December 11 presentation sponsored by Mercyhurst College's newly formed Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society. Tompkins, a 1978 Mercyhurst graduate, is executive vice president, chief administrative officer and chief financial office for RPM International, a $3.5 billion company that markets chemical products globally and operates 90 manufacturing facilities. His talk, at 8:15 pm in the Mercy Heritage Room, is FREE and open to the public. Tompkins will also take part in an academic roundtable on business ethics at 4:15 pm. For information, contact Dr Daniel McFee at (814) 824-3607.


Auditions for the Young People’s Chorus of Erie will take place 4-6:00 pm on Thursday, December 11, at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, 134 W 7th St, Erie. Participants are asked to use the doors off the Cathedral’s West 7th Street parking lot. No prepared materials are needed. Children will be asked to sing “Happy Birthday to You” or a similarly familiar song. The Young People’s Chorus of Erie is a new youth outreach program in residence at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. YPC Erie accepts children ages 7 to 18 for its elementary, junior high, and high school choirs. Please call (814) 898-6789 to reserve an audition time on December 11 or to learn more about YPC Erie.

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.


TREC The Halls will be held 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, December 13 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie. Come early for Breakfast with Santa. Breakfast served 10 am to 1 pm and is just $6.95 per person (Ages 2 and under are free). Contact the Sunset Cafe for reservations at (814) 833-5843. Create a Holiday Nature Craft 1-3 pm. Crafts available for adults and children to make, $5 donation per craft for adults and $2 donation per craft for children. Registration not required. Enjoy the holiday movie "The Muppet Christmas Carol" on the Big Green Screen. Showtimes at 12 pm and 3 pm. Admission is FREE. 175 Tickets per show - First Come, First Served. Sponsored by: Kal Darres of The Sunset Cafe and Petra Restaurant.


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 Erie SeaWolves are proud to announce a partnership with the United States Marine Corps to bring the first ever "Fill The Truck At The Uht" Toys for Tots event to Jerry Uht Park. On Saturday, December 13 from 10 am until 2 pm, the main plaza in front of the Jerry Uht Park front gates will serve as a Toys for Tots drop-off. The Marines will be on hand with tactical vehicles including a 7-ton truck to fill with gifts for needy children in the Erie community and two hmmwv's. This holiday season, the Marines are in need of toys for 10,000 area youths. Donations are accepted in the form of new, unwrapped toys. Those who donate will be treated to FREE Smith's Hot Dogs, Pepsi soft drinks, hot chocolate, coffee and doughnuts. In addition, the SeaWolves are offering a special "buy one get one" "Stocking Stuffer" Gift Pack for fans to donate to Toys for Tots on the spot. The 'Wolves holiday gift kiosk will also be open during the event. Other highlights of the day include a visit from Santa Claus and bounce games for kids. Everybody's favorite mascot C Wolf will also be in attendance.

Christmas comes early for the Young People's Chorus of Erie: The Erie Philharmonic Chorus will host a "Messiah" sing-along to celebrate the holidays and support the newest youth outreach program in residence at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Anyone who has sung - or always wanted to sing - GF Handel's most famous composition is invited to join the 70 voice Erie Philharmonic Chorus for the sing-along, which takes place at 7 pm on Tuesday, Dec 16, at Saint Patrick Catholic Church, 130 E Fourth St, Erie. Admission is $5 per person, and all proceeds benefit YPC Erie. Participants who own a "Messiah" score are encouraged to bring it that evening. The sing-along will be conducted by Dr Jason Bishop, conductor of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus, founder and artistic director of the Young People's Chorus of Erie, and director of choral activities at Penn State Behrend. Organist Erik Meyer, cantor at Luther Memorial Church, will be the accompanist. "YPC Erie is touched by the generosity of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus, and very grateful," Bishop says. "We hope that parents and children who are interested in YPC Erie, or anyone who loves to sing and loves the Erie Philharmonic Chorus, will come out and show their support for great choral music, and for the important work YPC Erie is doing for the children of our community." The Young People's Chorus of Erie is open to children ages 7 to 18 and begins rehearsals in January. Inspired by and affiliated with the Young People's Chorus of New York City, YPC Erie offers children of diverse backgrounds a comprehensive choral music experience to foster personal and artistic growth. For more information about the "Messiah" sing-along or YPC Erie auditions, phone (814) 898-6789.

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.


0 comments: