
There is a 'must read' article by Dr Michael Mogavero on MassTransitMag.com called Strategic Planning in a High-Performing Transit Authority. It could be a bit old news as there is no date associated with it but it's worth checking out the story on the Erie Pennsylvania Metropolitan Transportation Authority (EMTA). Dr Mogavero points out that between 1979 and 1999, EMTA ridership had decreased by roughly 72 percent from 7,007,599 to 2,699,201. He goes on the point out changes made to fix the problems at EMTA.
Nice article in the Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald on Edinboro women's basketball recruit Samantha "Sam" Blazetic. Going into her freshman year, Blazetic had a routine physical for basketball. Doctors found a cancerous thyroid. She underwent radiation treatments and had surgery to remove a tumor. Each April since,she has had radiation treatments. Blazetic has been a 4 year starter for Eastlake North and is in th National Honor Society.
Thomas Jefferson defeated Erie Strong Vincent 35-21 in the PIAA Class AAA football quarterfinals.
The Gannon men's basketball team, ranked 8th in NCAA Division II, was red hot from the field Friday night while posting a 76-56 victory over NCAA Division II Independent Lake Erie in the 25th annual Gary Miller Classic semifinals at the Hammermill Center. Kyle Goldcamp (Pittsburgh, Pa/ Central Catholic) led all scorers with 21 points and eight rebounds, hitting 9-of-11 shots. The Golden Knights will play Daemen (NY) in Saturday's finals. The Wildcats recorded a 79-74 victory over Goshen (Ind) in Friday's first semifinal. Gannon improved to 2-0 while Lake Erie dropped to 1-5. The Golden Knights battle Daemen (7-1) in Saturday’s final at 8 pm. Goshen (Ind) and Lake Erie play in the consolation game at 6 pm. The Gannon game can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the Internet at Knight Sound. A live B2 Networks video broadcast will also be available for the Gannon game.
Justin Hodgman scored a goal and two assists to lead the Erie Otters to a 4-3 victor over the Mississauga St Michael’s Majors in an Ontario Hockey League game played tonight in front of 2,433 at the Hershey Centre. David Shields and Brandon Biggers each added a goal and an assist for the Otters while Andrew Yogan rounded out the scoring. The Otters ended a three-game losing streak with the win to improve to 12-13-1-0 on the season. Kyle Neuber, Jordan Mayer and Brett Flemming scored for the Majors, who dropped to 9-13-0-1 on the year. The Otters and the Majors complete a home-and-home series tomorrow (Saturday) night at 7 p.m. at the Tullio Arena presented by Chick-fil-a. The first 1,000 children receive a free kid’s meal coupon and the first 1,000 adults get a free chicken strips coupon. Tickets.
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants defeated the Erie BayHawks in the NBA D-League's season opener, 95-90, at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, IN in front of a crowd of 5,300 fans. Erie's Oliver Lafayette led all scorers with 31 points. Erik Daniels recorded a double-double for the BayHawks with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 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.
The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team rode the strength of three first period goals in disposing of Rensselaer, 4-1, in the opening game of the 58th Annual Rensselaer Holiday Tournament Friday evening at the Houston Field House. With the victory, the Lakers improve to 4-8-1 and extend their win streak to three games. Seniors Ryan Toomey and Brett Robinson led the offense with a goal and an assist apiece while sophomore Steve Cameron marked his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
"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 through Nov 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.

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.


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.






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