Food with Attitude

By Cindy Hemper

As Erie is filled with great places for dining, it is so hard to choose what place to go to next.  With the summer days being so pleasant, most of the time I just let my feet do the walking and stop in to whatever place they may lead me.

Recently I walked into another beautifully historic restaurant located at 414 French Street, The Pufferbelly.  This extraordinary establishment that is housed in a more than 100 year old building that originally was built as a firehouse in 1908, served up some of the best local atmosphere and food that I have had the pleasure of sampling in our city.

The Pufferbelly was founded more than a quarter of a century ago, and is owned and operated by Bruce & Mary Ellen Hemme. The menu selections are wide and varied, with top-notch service to match.

The owners and staff have created a unique casual feeling, while at the same time, you know you are in an upscale restaurant, that welcomes everybody.

The Pufferbelly serves a fantastic menu that includes everything you might want, from chicken breast to chicken Marsalis to Filet mignon with catch of the day fish entrees and burgers, all prepared how you like them.  The appetizers include Baked Brie with Almonds, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms along with many more tasty treats to bate your taste buds.  They also have a nice selection on their children’s menu as well.

First, the French Onion Soup is simply the best I have had anywhere in the city.  I followed that up with the Southwestern Rubbed Strip Steak, simply the most amazing steak I have had to date in Erie.

This Strip Steak is served perfectly seared with the exact blend of Cumin, the second most popular spice in the world after black pepper, and the mild but earthy kick of Chipotle along with the hot and flavorful chile ancho Chili Pepper, and yes, even a touch of Cayenne pepper flawlessly blended for a zesty and scrumptious steak.  

Bread pudding is perhaps my favorite desert, and when I saw it on the menu I thought, if the rest of my dinner was any sign, I should definitely try it.  Having spent time in New Orleans where the Bread pudding is a Creole specialty that is made to an absolute perfection, my standards, admittedly maybe a bit high. Although, the rest of my meal was to say the least, sensual, still, I did not have much hope for this dish. As I took my first bite a feeling of astonishment swept over me, this Bread pudding rivaled that of the old southern cooks and even that of Capirotada, which is the incredible Mexican version of Bread pudding that I sampled while in Acapulco two years ago.

Overall, my experience with The Pufferbelly restaurant was to say the least outstanding with the invitingly historic ambiance, warm staff and great service and especially the unbelievable food, I would certainly invite everyone to stop in and have a truly wonderful dining experience.

Where’s the Fireworks
By Julie Caldwell

It is that time of year, picnics, pool parties, beaches and the Fourth of July celebrations. The Fourth of July is a day for family fun. While Fourth of July fireworks seem to be becoming an endangered species around Erie, whether you are taking a trip to the other side of the county, or looking for fireworks close to home, here are some of the festivities in and around Erie.

To start your weekend off with a boom head out to Waldameer Friday & Saturday, admission to Waldameer is FREE, and the fireworks will be held July 2nd and 3rd at dark! Everyone 19 and under not accompanied by a parent must purchase a Ride-A-Rama before entering the park. No alcoholic beverages permitted.

Of course, with the Seawolves being a home game this weekend, there will certainly be fireworks crackling from Jerry Uht Park making it the ONLY place for downtown fireworks this Independence Day Weekend. Explosive fireworks shows will follow SeaWolves games against the Akron Aeros (Cleveland Indians) on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3. Tickets are going fast so get yours today!

After sunning yourself at the Peninsula, catching some of the thrill rides of the park and soaking up the water rides in Water World, be sure to get up early Monday for Milcreek’s 46th annual parade, from 9:45am to noon. The parade will be held on West 12th Street, beginning at Marshall Drive going west to Ford Avenue, just east of the Erie International Airport.

More than 120 other units will be in the parade, including marching bands, other bands, floats, Zem Zem Shrine units, automobile clubs, political dignitaries, fire departments, horses and dogs.

The grand marshal will be Waldameer Park & Water World owner Paul Nelson.

This will just be the start of your festivities for the day. Three local venues around the area are kicking off the 4th of July with an all day event, starting as early as 11am. Riverside Inn, Centerville and Lawrence Park have certainly stepped up to the plate to fill in the loss of the fireworks shows at Mercyhurst and Boom on the Bay.

For the second straight year, The Riverside Inn & Dinner Theatre in Cambridge Springs, PA opens its grounds for a free, old-fashioned, community-wide Independence Day Celebration.

As many other local boroughs and organizations cut back on their community celebrations, the Inn’s event keeps getting bigger and better with even more ways to “step back in time for a day of family fun and activities!”

Schedule of Events

11am - Activities Begin

11am-5pm - 150th Bucktail Infantry Camp Activities

12pm-8pm - Pig Roast $9 Adults, $4 10 & under

12pm - Sack Races

12:30pm - Blue Diamond

2pm - President Theodore Roosevelt

3pm - Watermelon Eating Contest

3pm - Honky Tonk Angels - Victorian Room

4pm - Teddy Bear Parade

5pm - TBA

6pm - President Theodore Roosevelt

7pm - Honky Tonk Angels - Victorian Room

7:15pm - Pie Eating Contest

7:50pm - Timeless Tootsies

8pm - Lucky Dog

9:45pm – FIREWORKS


The Centerville Volunteer Fire Department will be holding the 51st Annual Strawberry Festival on Monday, July 4, 2011 at the fire hall grounds from 12 noon until 11pm with FIREWORKS at dusk! There will be live entertainment on the stage all day!

The Annual Party on Main in Lawrence Park (also honoring their 100th year) with the start of the 2pm Parade and after will lead to Vendors and events along Main street all day until the Fireworks at Dusk.

2 pm - QUEEN PAGEANT
4:30pm - YOU ME 'N RICKY (ACOUSTIC ROCK)
6:30pm - WILDWOOD EXPRESS (BLUEGRASS)
8:30pm - NECESSARY EXPERIENCE (ROCK 'N ROLL)

There will also be food concessions (strawberry shortcake), Traditional All-You-Can-Eat Chicken & Ham Dinners, Homemade Pie & Soup With Our Famous Homemade Noodles, Refreshments, Games of skill & chance for all ages, Bingo, crafts, Chinese auction, Over $35,000 in Cash & Prizes including over 20 Handmade Quilts, a SANYO 42” LCD HDTV and a $5,000 Grand Prize as well as other vendors.

Live Entertainment – Event held RAIN or SHINE – canopy covered – Handicap accessible.

Nearly 2,000 dinners served each year.

Dining Room serving 11 AM – 3 PM; Takeouts available 11 AM – 2 PM; Dinner ticket sales open at 10 AM. Adults: $7.50 Children 6 – 12: $3.50 Children under 6: Free.

Festival proceeds benefit St. Joseph Catholic School.

All-you-can-eat dinners: Adults - $7.50 Children 6 - 12 $3.50 Children under 6 - FREE.

Phone: 814-226-7288. Dinner hours: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Parish Grounds 112 Rectory Lane Lucinda PA I-80 Exit 60 Rt. 66 N. 10 Miles.

This will be a fun day for all and admission is free to all!

I hope everyone has a safe and filled weekend. Happy 4th of July From ERI Jams!!

20th Annual Great Blue Heron

July 1-2-3

2361 Waits Corners Rd
Panama, NY 14757

The Great Blue Heron Music Festival was first held in 1992. Our initial motivation was the desire to host a Saturday afternoon barbecue/gathering with Donna the Buffalo. But our larger inspiration became the beautiful piece of land on which we stood to plan the party. By the end of that first meeting, we had decided to attempt a three-day event.

Located in the Amish-inhabited rolling hills of Western New York's Chautauqua County, the site virtually planned the layout for us. The main stage would fit nicely amid some pines at the foot of a naturally amphitheatric, maple-shaded hillside. The many acres of woods and trails seemed perfect for tent-campers, and we saw that adjacent fields could accommodate those who preferred to attend in campers or RVs. As our enthusiasm grew, we envisioned trucking in sand to create a beach alongside a large pond, the land's signature feature. As for performers, our experience in presenting local club shows had established relationships with many talented folks. As we contacted them with our idea, many went for it; most for little or no monetary reward. They included, along with ‘Donna’; Rusted Root, The Heartbeats, John & Mary, Rasta Rafiki and the late Colorblind James.

The first Blue Heron, drew about 900 people, and while it was no great financial success, the response by fans and everyone else involved, encouraged us to try again. By our second year, we had added a huge dance tent, along with performer-hosted music workshops, dance instruction, and a full slate of children's activities. In subsequent years, we added a songwriters' circle, cut new trails, and expanded our food and merchandise layout.

As we grew, parking became a problem, with cars along the road stretching to the horizon. Thanks to the neighbors, we added a huge field to accommodate them. As time went on we cleared more land to house those who preferred a quiet area, more removed from the center of things. This was so well received that we recently acquired a beautiful piece of land across the road, which has also become popular with the fans, offering a spectacular overview of the festival. As we prepare to enter our nineteenth festival year, we're grateful for the many wonderful friends we've made, and proud of our reputation for organization, safety and the opportunity to come together each year in the spirit of community and harmony. But we'd be remiss in not giving the lion's share of the credit to our hundreds of volunteers. Where all those wonderful people came from that first year, we still don't know. But not only are many of them still with us, they've been joined by a lot more, bringing the total each year to well over 600.

This year will also see a full schedule of performances at our new cafe-in-the-woods.

Each year we have all come together to form a truly harmonious community. The loyalty, enthusiasm and approval of all who have attended has become our true inspiration.

Click here to download a map of the festival site

No Camping without Weekend Pass
CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE!

VEHICLE CAMPING
Payable at gate only
Upper lot: $55 per vehicle / weekend
Lower Lot, Quiet Area, & Across The Road: $45 per vehicle / weekend
Off Road Parking: $10 per vehicle / day - $15 weekend
No Charge For Tent Camping
(without vehicle/ in the woods)

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2011 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Subject to Change

HERE'S OUR 20TH LINE-UP

DONNA THE BUFFALO
Breaking in dancing shoes with rootsy grooves at the Heron since 1992

THE HORSE FLIES
Twisting the roots of Americana and World music into a tantalizing spiral of carnival-like dreams

THE TOWN PANTS
Vancouver's fiery Celt-rockers generate nearly as much dust as they do sweaty grins

THE DAVID BROMBERG QUARTET
A fearless foursome of fierce acousticity fronted by a guitar-slinging troubadour whose encyclopedic range of musical mastery is beyond compare

SLO-MO
Philly's eminent purveyors of slippery steel guitar, killer rhymes, and super-funky rhythms

SIM REDMOND BAND
Weaving sweet rays of global sunshine into a supple musical fabric of discovery and friendship

BIG LEG EMMA
Jamestown's most beloved barnyard stompers continue to spread their musical wings

LA KREMA
Sizzling skillets of spicy merengue and bachata from Buffalo's favorite Latin party band

BOBBY HENRIE & THE GONERS
Frantic rockabilly at it's real deal best

THE HINDU COWBOYS
Orlando's alt-country rebels drive the party home in a rusty pickup full of gravy and grits

WATERBAND
Shimmering tribal vibes and grooved rasta-positivity from Ohio's North Coast

JIMKATA
Ithaca's wickedly tight jam quartet tweaks the freak-quencies of the burgeoning electro-rock scene

THE DELANEY BROTHERS
These Cortland pickers deliver big bushels of organic bluegrass and down-home folk

TIGER MAPLE STRING BAND
Distilling the finest spirits in traditional corn-fed Ohio Valley music

STEWED MULLIGAN
Music that should have been birthed in a basement by the illegitimate sons of The Band

THE NEW ALIENS
A primeval invasion of Cajun and Zydeco that will keep you dancing til dawn

EZEKIEL'S WHEEL

THE AMAZING DR. ZARCON’S BREATHING MACHINE
An intoxicating stew of jug band music and old-time jazz

BUFFALO ZYDECO
The ‘Donna’ folks conjure up their annual abundance of Creole-infused zyde-magic under the swirling big top

SMACKDAB
Local favorites, Smackdab offer up high energy soul/funk that can rock with the best of 'em

THE GUNPOETS

THE BOGARTS

THEE AUDIENCE
Local indie rock darlings Thee Audience deliver crafty upbeat songs that will stay with you long after the last campfire is extinguished

NORTHERN RAILROAD BLUEGRASS

KEN HARDLEY

CINDY HAIGHT & MARLA HARRIS

BILL WARD & AMANDA BARTON
A pioneering force for acoustic folk and spiritual roots in the Southern Tier

RACHEL & LIBBY EDDY

CLAIRE STUCZYNSKI & ERIC BREWER

MAX CONOVER

THE HAY BALERS

ZAMIRA

Other Features of the Festival

Check out their website to see images of past festivals.

Fourth of July Activities for the Family

The Fourth of July is a great day to spend time with your family and do fun activities. There are a lot of options for safe family fun, both in and out of the home on the Fourth of July. Here are few activities that are family friendly and cheap.

One of the most obvious and most common Fourth of July activities is fireworks. Fireworks displays occur all over the United States on the Fourth of July. They are great fun. However, this is not always an option. The loud noises are not good for small children and people with anxiety disorders.

For families who like quieter, more intimate family fun on the Fourth of July, roasting marshmallows around a campfire is just the thing. Whether you are camping or in your backyard, roasting marshmallows can be a blast. Furthermore, they are a great way to have a quiet leisurely talk with your family.

One thing that is often forgotten on the Fourth of July is our reason for celebrating. It is easy to forget amid the fanfare of the celebration. Therefore, it can be fun to spend some time with your family remembering why it is that we celebrate the Fourth of July in the United States. A good way to do this is to do a little Fourth of July trivia.

Another common family activity for the Fourth of July is throwing a cook out. Having a big family cookout, complete with games and good food is a great way to spend the Fourth of July. What is even better is that you can spend the day enjoying a cookout and then those family members who are interested can still have time to see a fireworks display.

Often times, communities will have Fourth of July celebrations, such as carnivals, crafts fairs, outdoor concerts and community picnics. These can be a lot of fun; if you can find something that your family enjoys doing. One can typically find out about these events in the local paper or even at the local town hall.

Whatever you do with your family this Fourth of July, be safe. Limit your proximity to fireworks and please abide by your state and county laws in regards to fires, fireworks and alcohol consumption. Accidents do happen and nothing will spoil your fun family Fourth of July activity faster than an accident.

Let us not forget the safety of our fourlegged family pet, below are some great summer safety tips for dogs:

Beach Fun...A day at the beach is fun for you, but can be dangerous for your pet. The saltwater is not healthy for your pet to drink and, unless your pet has some shade, the hot sun and sand could be hazardous!

Don't leave your pet alone in the car.... temperatures can reach 120 within a half hour. Dogs and cats can't perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. Pets that are left in hot cars can suffer from brief heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, or they can even die.

Heart-worm disease....., which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Other summertime threats are fleas and ticks, so use only flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian.

Plant and garden fertilizers can be deadly.... We spend more time making our yard and gardens pretty in the summertime, but remember that a lot of plant food, fertilizers, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them.

July 4th fireworks....yes, they are beautiful to watch, but a dog's hearing is more acute than a human's. Some animals become nervous and try to run away from the sound and dog walking during all the evening fireworks could frighten your dog. Be alert to your dog's sensitive ears and keep him inside the house so he can feel safe.

Water safety... now that the pools are open, don't leave your pet alone near a pool; not all dogs are good swimmers. Be sure to rinse your dog off after he swims in a chlorinated pool and try not to let him drink the pool water because it has harmful chemicals that can bother his tummy!

So with all the summer fun going on, just keep in mind that our pets don't enjoy the sun or the fireworks as much as we do! Enjoy your July 4th holiday with kids, fireworks, parades, ice cream and your pets!!!!

Allegheny College to Present Charting the Course to College Workshop July 15

Allegheny College will present a free one-day workshop on Friday, July 15 for college-bound students and their families. Through interactive sessions, the workshop—titled “Charting the Course to College”—offers professional insight into conducting a thorough and effective college search.

An opportunity to share ideas and questions and gather practical information, Charting the Course to College will help individuals who are just beginning to navigate the college search and others whose journey is well under way.

“The program is ideal for rising sophomores and juniors and their families,” said Allegheny dean of enrollment Jennifer Winge. “The sessions are designed to take away the mystique of the college search process. We hope to ease anxieties and motivate families to take the process step-by-step.”

Workshop topics include: A College Search Timeline, Preparing for the College Interview and Campus Visit, Connecting with Your Counselor, Paying for College, Ask the Experts: Collegiate Athletics & Recreation, Student Activities and Residence Life, and Student Perspectives: “What’s College Life Really Like?”

All students involved in the college search process are welcome to attend, not just those interested in Allegheny. Participants are invited to tour the campus and attend an optional Allegheny presentation to learn more about the college.

“We’ve been very pleased with the success of this program over the years and the feedback from families we receive concerning its impact on the search process,” Winge said. “Our attendance has doubled in just the last several years.”

Registrations for the workshop must be received by Monday, July 11. The workshop is designed for rising high school juniors and may be particularly well-suited for those families with rising sophomores who want to get a head start on the college selection process.

For more information or to register, go to www.allegheny.edu/visit or call 1-800-521-5293.

Peter Falk Dies at 83: Actor Most Remembered for 'Columbo' Role

Most fondly remembered for his signature role as the rumpled Lieutenant Columbo, actor Peter Falk died this week at the age 83, according to a statement released by his family.

The statement released on Friday said Falk died peacefully at his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on the evening of June 23.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shera, and two daughters from a previous marriage.

A cause of death was not released, but the actor suffered from Alzheimer's disease and advanced dementia that intensified after a series of dental operations in 2007.

In 2009, his wife, Shera, and daughter, Catherine, became engaged in a legal tug-of-war over who should be in charge of his personal affairs; a judge ruled that Shera would retain control.

Falk treated audiences to more 40 years of films, but it was on the small screen, as a simple cop trying to catch the bad guys, that he won over viewers.

Falk was best known for his role as the iconic cop Lt. Columbo in his long-running TV series.

He'd show up on a case -- raincoat rumpled, old car rumbling -- hang about, and then just as it seemed as if the bad guy might get away with the crime, he'd show up again, polite as ever, scratch his head and say there was just one nagging detail he couldn't quite figure out.

He won four Emmy awards for his work on the show.

Falk also found success on the big screen. He was nominated for Oscars for his roles in "Murder, Inc."(1960) and "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961).

He began his career in theater and returned to the stage late in his career. In 1972, Falk won a Tony for Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue."

Mercyhurst Forensics Team En Route to Fatal Amtrak Crash in Reno

Mercyhurst College forensic anthropologists Dennis Dirkmaat and Steven Symes are part of the “go-team” dispatched by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to the scene of Friday’s fatal crash involving a tractor-trailer rig and an Amtrak passenger train in the high desert of Nevada.

At least six people were killed when the rig slammed into the side of a California-bound passenger train at a railroad crossing east of Reno. Those killed included the truck driver and a train crew member, according to news reports. The death toll was not final with as many as 24 people still missing from the train's 210-person manifest.

Dirkmaat, who heads the applied forensic sciences department at Mercyhurst, is expected to lead the forensic anthropology recovery effort in collaboration with the coroner's office at the scene just as he did at the fatal Continental Express plane crash in Clarence Center, N.Y., in February 2009. He said the work of Mercyhurst’s team at the Buffalo area plane crash, a team that included himself, Symes and eight graduate students, did not go unnoticed by the NTSB and he is quite confident that is why in part Mercyhurst is being dispatched to the scene in Reno.

Dirkmaat is an expert in the archaeological recovery of human remains from outdoor contexts. Symes is an expert in bone trauma and co-edited a book titled “The Analysis of Burned Human Remains.” The apparent delay in reaching a death toll in Friday’s crash is due partly to the severe fire damage to two of the train cars, according to news reports.

Prior to his departure Sunday morning, Dirkmaat said he expects to employ recovery protocols recently created by his department through research funded by the National Institute of Justice.

“This will be one of the first practical applications of protocols for the recovery of fatal fire victims that we established here at Mercyhurst,” Dirkmaat said.

Dirkmaat and Symes will be accompanied by Ivana Wolf and Michael Kenyhercz, recent graduates of Mercyhurst’s master’s program in forensic anthropology.

“We have no idea what we are dealing with at this point,” Dirkmaat said. “I have heard it may be one car we will be focused on, but there may be more. We know the desert environment and the fire will combine to make it very hot; we’ll be dealing with hazards like jagged glass and twisted metal. Beyond that, we will need to see when we get there.”

The Mercyhurst team departed from the Erie airport Sunday morning and is expected to be at the accident site at least until Thursday.

Dirkmaat and Symes are two of fewer than 100 board certified forensic anthropologists in North America and the only two in Pennsylvania.

Top 5 Myths About the Fourth of July!

#1 Independence Was Declared on the Fourth of July.

America's independence was actually declared by the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. The night of the second the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the statement: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

So what happened on the Glorious Fourth? The document justifying the act of Congress-you know it as Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence-was adopted on the fourth, as is indicated on the document itself, which is, one supposes, the cause for all the confusion. As one scholar has observed, what has happened is that the document announcing the event has overshadowed the event itself.

When did Americans first celebrate independence? Congress waited until July 8, when Philadelphia threw a big party, including a parade and the firing of guns. The army under George Washington, then camped near New York City, heard the new July 9 and celebrated then. Georgia got the word August 10. And when did the British in London finally get wind of the declaration? August 30.

John Adams, writing a letter home to his beloved wife Abigail the day after independence was declared (i.e. July 3), predicted that from then on "the Second of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival." A scholar coming across this document in the nineteenth century quietly" corrected" the document, Adams predicting the festival would take place not on the second but the fourth.

#2 The Declaration of Independence was signed July 4.

Hanging in the grand Rotunda of the Capitol of the United States is a vast canvas painting by John Trumbull depicting the signing of the Declaration. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams wrote, years afterward, that the signing ceremony took place on July 4. When someone challenged Jefferson's memory in the early 1800's Jefferson insisted he was right. The truth? As David McCullough remarks in his new biography of Adams, "No such scene, with all the delegates present, ever occurred at Philadelphia."

So when was it signed? Most delegates signed the document on August 2, when a clean copy was finally produced by Timothy Matlack, assistant to the secretary of Congress. Several did not sign until later. And their names were not released to the public until later still, January 1777. The event was so uninspiring that nobody apparently bothered to write home about it. Years later Jefferson claimed to remember the event clearly, regaling visitors with tales of the flies circling overhead. But as he was wrong about the date, so perhaps he was wrong even about the flies.

The truth about the signing was not finally established until 1884 when historian Mellon Chamberlain, researching the manuscript minutes of the journal of Congress, came upon the entry for August 2 noting a signing ceremony.

As for Benjamin Franklin's statement, which has inspired patriots for generations, "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately" … well, there's no proof he ever made it.

#3 The Liberty Bell Rang in American Independence.

Well of course you know now that this event did not happen on the fourth. But did it happen at all? It's a famous scene. A young boy with bond hair and blue eyes was supposed to have been posted in the street next to Independence Hall to give a signal to an old man in the bell tower when independence was declared. It never happened. The story was made up out of whole cloth in the middle of the nineteenth century by writer George Lippard in a book intended for children. The book was aptly titled, Legends of the American Revolution. There was no pretense that the story was genuine.

If the Liberty Bell rang at all in celebration of independence nobody took note at the time. The bell was not even named in honor of American independence. It received the moniker in the early nineteenth century when abolitionists used it as a symbol of the antislavery movement.

If you visit the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, encased in a multi-million dollar shrine (soon to be replaced by an even grander building), a tape recording made by the National Park Service leaves the impression that the bell indeed played a role in American independence. (We last heard the recording three years ago. We assume it's still being played.) The guides are more forthcoming, though they do not expressly repudiate the old tradition unless directly asked a question about it. On the day we visited the guide sounded a bit defensive, telling our little group it didn't really matter if the bell rang in American independence or not. Millions have come to visit, she noted, allowing the bell to symbolize liberty for many different causes. In other words, it is our presence at the bell that gives the shrine its meaning. It is important because we think it's important. It's the National Park Service's version of existentialism.

As for the famous crack … it was a badly designed bell and it cracked. End of story.

#4 Betsy Ross Sewed the First Flag.

A few blocks away from the Liberty Bell is the Betsy Ross House. There is no proof Betsy lived here, as the Joint State Government Commission of Pennsylvania concluded in a study in 1949. Oh well. Every year the throngs still come to gawk. As you make your way to the second floor through a dark stairwell the feeling of verisimilitude is overwhelming. History is everywhere. And then you come upon the famous scene. Behind a wall of Plexiglas, as if to protect the sacred from contamination, a Betsy Ross manikin sits in a chair carefully sewing the first flag. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is where Betsy sewed that first famous symbol of our freedom, the bars and stripes, Old Glory itself.

Alas, the story is no more authentic than the house itself. It was made up in the nineteenth century by Betsy's descendants.

The guide for our group never let on that the story was bogus, however. Indeed, she provided so many details that we became convinced she really believed it. She told us how General George Washington himself asked Betsy to stitch the first flag. He wanted six point stars; Betsy told him that five point stars were easier to cut and stitch. The general relented.

After the tour was over we approached the guide for an interview. She promptly removed her Betsy Ross hat, turned to us and admitted the story is all just a lot of phooey. Oh, but it is a good story, she insisted, and one worth telling.

Poor Betsy. In her day she was just a simple unheralded seamstress. Now the celebrators won't leave her alone. A few years ago they even dug up her bones where they had lain in a colonial graveyard for 150 years, so she could be buried again beneath a huge sarcophagus located on the grounds of the house she was never fortunate enough to have lived in.

So who sewed the first flag? No one knows. But we do know who designed it. It was Frances Hopkinson. Records show that in May 1780 he sent a bill to the Board of Admiralty for designing the "flag of the United States." A small group of descendants works hard to keep his name alive. Just down the street from Betsy's house one of these descendants, the caretaker for the local cemetery where Benjamin Franklin is buried, entertains school children with stories about Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration, who is also credited with designing the seal of the United States. We asked him what he made of the fantasies spun at the Betsy Ross house. He confided he did not want to make any disparaging remarks as he was a paid employee of the city of Philadelphia, which now owns the house.

The city seems to be of the opinion that the truth doesn't matter. Down the street from the cemetery is a small plaque posted on a brick building giving Hopkinson the credit he rightly deserves.

As long as the tourists come.

#5 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Died on the Fourth of July.

Ok, this is true. On July 4, 1826, Adams and Jefferson both died, exactly fifty years after the adoption of Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, which the country took as a sign of American divinity. But there is no proof that Adams, dying, uttered, "Jefferson survives," which was said to be especially poignant, as Jefferson had died just hours before. Mark that up as just another hoary story we wished so hard were true we convinced ourselves it is.

Have a Happy Fourth!

Edinboro University Will Launch School of Business July 1

Dr. Michael Hannan named dean of new school

Edinboro University’s unparalleled growth in academic opportunities for students gets another boost July 1 when the University launches its first ever School of Business.

The new school will be headed by a longtime Edinboro business faculty member, Dr. Michael J. Hannan, who will serve as dean of the School of Business.

“Edinboro University’s School of Business underscores our continuing commitment to providing high quality undergraduate business education in our region,” Hannan said. “The school will provide direct benefits to students in a number of meaningful ways, including the introduction of new versions of ongoing and highly successful business degree programs.”

The School of Business expands Edinboro’s educational opportunities for students by joining alongside the University’s recently formed College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Education and Graduate Studies & Research.

“The ‘Edinboro Experience’ is about to get even better!” said Interim President Jim Moran. “Edinboro’s business programs have long been among our most successful fields of study in terms of student popularity and degrees awarded. And now, the establishment of a separate School of Business expands those offerings in ways that will create meaningful and myriad employment opportunities for our business students when they graduate and throughout their entire careers.”

The School of Business will continue to offer Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, both of which are internationally accredited by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs. A Bachelor of Science degree and minor in Economics are also offered.

Some 15 faculty members, professors with wide expertise in the diverse business and economics disciplines, will staff the new school.

In addition, as Moran points out, a new version of the AS Business Administration degree will be introduced in the fall. This version updates preparation for students using the degree for entry-level positions in business while also preparing them for further study at the baccalaureate level through enhanced development of writing and mathematical skills and the introduction of ethical decision-making.

Also, a new version of Edinboro’s BS Business Administration degree program, first introduced last fall, will continue in the new School of Business with its updated mathematics requirements, expanded writing requirements, applied ethics emphasis, and a required career preparation seminar covering topics such as resume writing, interviewing, professional networking and job search skills, and workplace expectations.

“Edinboro University views the field of business as an area of excellence and growth,” said Philip Ginnetti, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “That’s why we are so eager to showcase our programs and expand opportunities in this area through the formation of the School of Business. The new school allows for a greater institutional focus on this important area of professional education and simultaneously emphasizes what we value to the external community.”

According to Ginnetti, the School of Business will continue to offer quality programs in multiple applied areas of business while developing additional innovative programming and other outreach to better serve students and businesses regionally, statewide, nationally and globally.

“Our visible commitment to quality business programming is yet another example of Edinboro’s objectives to make great things happen for its students and the community,” Provost Ginnetti said.

Also, the School of Business, headquartered in Hendricks Hall, will:

Continue to emphasize, but also expand the University’s successful business student internship program, allowing students to gain practical professional experience as part of their education;
Offer a new pilot Mentoring Program that matches students with business professionals during students’ last two years of study in their major;
Continue to allow students in the BS Business Administration program to concentrate studies in Accounting, Comprehensive Business Administration, Financial Services, Forensic Accounting, Management Information Systems, and Marketing; and
Prepare students with a concentration in financial services for future nationally-accepted professional certification.

Provost Ginnetti praised Dr. Hannan’s leadership and academic abilities, saying Hannan “has the qualifications, expertise and higher education administrative background and competencies to successfully lead and elevate this vibrant new school.

“Mike Hannan is the perfect fit for Edinboro’s School of Business,” Ginnetti continued. “We are confident he will quickly expand the University’s connections with the business community, while elevating our offerings to the competitive level of other quality programs.”

Hannan first joined Edinboro University in 1988 as a faculty member in the Business & Economics Department, and later served as the departmental chair. More recently, he served as an Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences, focusing on development of business programming and accreditation.

Hannan earned his Ph.D. in Resource Economics from West Virginia University, and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Board of Directors and past President of the Pennsylvania Economic Association.

For more information about Edinboro University’s School of Business, please phone 814-732-2400, or log on to www.Edinboro.edu after July 1.

2011 Smith Carillon Concert Series
By Suzanne Scarpino

Free music, free refreshments

The 48 bells of the Floyd and Juanita Smith Carillon at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will ring at the hands (and fists, and feet) of four internationally known carillonneurs this summer.

Carillons are the world’s largest musical instrument; their bells are hung stationary in a steel framework. Clappers are brought to the bells using a system of levers and counter springs connected to a clavier. The keyboard-like clavier is located in a small room at the base of the carillon; the carillonneur strikes the clavier’s keys, called batons, with a loosely closed fist. The heavier bells also can be played using foot pedals.

Performing on the Smith Carillon this summer will be:

Thursday, July 14
Toru Takao
Freelance carillonneur from Dusseldorf, Germany

Thursday, July 21
Karel Keldermans
Former president of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America

Thursday, July 28
Gordon Slater
Retired Dominion Carillonneur of Canada

Thursday, August 4
Sharon L. Hettinger
Director of music, St. Andrew Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Mo.

All four outdoor performances begin at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Free hot dogs and snacks will be served during the concerts.

Seating for the Smith Carillon Concert Series is on the lawn of the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel; concertgoers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. In the event of rain, seating will be available inside the chapel.

The Floyd and Juanita Smith Carillon bells were installed in April 2002. The largest of the bells weighs 1,344 pounds and has a 40-inch diameter at its mouth. The smallest weighs 15 and one-quarter pounds and measures six and five-eighths inches in diameter. The Smith Carillon bells were cast by Meeks, Watson & Co., a bell founder located in Georgetown, Ohio, and are made from “bell metal,” a bronze consisting of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin. This alloy has been used for carillon bells since the 1600s.

The Smith Carillon is considered a concert carillon; it covers four octaves, permitting performance of almost the entire canon of published carillon music.

The Smith Carillon Concert Series is made possible by a gift from Larry and Kathryn Smith. For additional information about the series, phone 814-898-6609.

Welcome to 2011 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Meadville

Meadville, Pennsylvania Roche Park

Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Registration- 9:00am Walk Begins- 10:00am

Approximately 3 miles

Call or Email the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association - Special Events Manager, Robin Hecker at (814) 456-9200 or robin.hecker@alz.org

The end of Alzheimer's disease starts here.

Join the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's™ and unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions. With more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's, and nearly 11 million more serving as caregivers, the time to act is now!

When you register for Walk to End Alzheimer's, you're joining an unstoppable force of thousands of people who are standing up to this devastating disease.

Our journey starts now. It's easy to join our team:

Register. It takes just a few minutes online.

Start a team. Participating in Walk to End Alzheimer's is even more fun with a group. Ask your co-workers, family and friends to walk as a team. You'll be amazed at how many people want to help.

Fundraise. Every Walk to End Alzheimer's participant is asked to raise money for the fight against Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Association staff are ready to support you every step of the way with tips, tools and advice.

Get Creative. Raise money with our online tools, hold a fundraising event or ask for a donation when you're face-to-face.

Walk! Walk to End Alzheimer's is a unique experience. See the difference you can make as we walk to change the course of Alzheimer's together.

Walk to End Alzheimer's is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, this all age, all-ability walk has mobilized millions to join the fight against Alzheimer's disease, raising more than $347 million for the cause. Events are held annually in the fall in nearly 600 communities nationwide.

All Walk to End Alzheimer's donations benefit the Alzheimer's Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

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Listen Live

Around Campus

Edinboro University
219 Meadville St, Edinboro
(814) 732-2000
Campus Map

End of Semester

There will be no Highland Games in 2011.
The committee has requested a year off to plan for a better event in 2012.


Edinboro Film Series

FALL 2011 PROGRAM

Wednesdays 8:30PM Pogue Student Center Multipurpose Room
Free with EUP I.D. / General Public $2 / Poster Raffle $2

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968)
Wednesday, September 7
An epic Western directed by Sergio Leone.
Starring Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson. Rated PG13
Hosted by Edinboro Film Series

BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)  
Wednesday, September 21
A look at the California porn industry in the 1970s and 80s. Directed by
Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds. Rated R
Hosted by Edinboro Film Series

BLUE VELVET (1986)
Wednesday, October 5
A young man discovers a sinister underworld in his suburban home town. Directed by David Lynch. Starring Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper. Rated R
Hosted by Filmmaker Mark Steensland

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2004) Wednesday, October 19
*Doucette Hall Room 119
A young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Rated PG
Hosted by Filmmaker Brad Pattullo

BEST OF EERIE HORROR FEST 2011  Wednesday, October 26
Collection of Horror/Thriller shorts and features from this year's film festival. Rated R.
Hosted by Festival President Greg Ropp

Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN (2001)  Wednesday, November 2
Two young men and a woman embark on a road trip of discovery. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Starring Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal. Rated R
Hosted by Edinboro Film Series

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2010) Wednesday, November 16
An eccentric shop keeper and amateur filmmaker gains access into the underground world of graffiti art. Directed by Banksy. Rated R
Hosted by Edinboro Film Series

BUFFALO '66 (1998)
Wednesday, November 30
After being released from prison, a man kidnaps a teeange girl and takes her with him to visit his parents. Directed by Vincent Gallo. Starring Christina Ricci. Rated R.
Hosted by Filmmaker Len Kabasinski

GOOD BURGER (1997)
Wednesday, December 14
A high school student is forced to get a job at a fast food restaurant.
Starring Kenan Thompson, Sinbad. Rated PG
Hosted by Nickelodeon Historian Brook White

Mercyhurst College
501 East 38th St, Erie
(800) 825-1926

 

Gannon University
109 University Square, Erie
(814) 871-7000 or (800) 426-6668

End of Semester

Penn State Behrend College
4701 College Drive, Erie
(814) 898-6000 or (866) 374-3378
Campus Map

Events that are open to both the Penn State Behrend community and the public


Gospel Hill Garden Club Picnic Tuesday, August 02, 2011
5:00PM - 9:00PM

Wilson Picnic Grove
Michelle Slagle
fms6@psu.edu 
Phone: 814-898-6166

Allegheny College

520 N. Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335
(814)332-3100

County Events

Poetry Scene
The Erie Book Store
137 E 13, Erie PA
Every Friday 6:30-8PM

Open Mic. Everyone is invited to sit and listen, read your own or someone else's poetry. Relax and enjoy coffee, tea or a soft drink and a tasty pastry.

Tom Forsthoefel Erie County Pennsylvania Poet Laureate
 

Enhanced Poetry CD Now Available

Enhanced Poetry is Chuck Joy, with Kurt Sahlmann. Chuck's all poetry, Kurt is mostly music. Music and poetry at the same time. It's fun and moving. We performed at the Jive Cafe in Erie PA last December and the CD recorded live at that event is readying for distribution. The CD, "Enhanced Poetry, Live at The Jive!" is available at the Erie Book Store.

You can also order the CD "Enhanced Poetry - Live At The Jive" online

If you have any questions please contact Chuck Joy at crjoy1@gmail.com

Live At The Jive the Enhanced Poetry CD featuring Kurt Sahlmann and Chuck Joy with special guests Monica Igras and Darryl M. Brown is available now on www.cdbaby.com. Search the title or artist.

Even if you have a copy it's fun to sample the tracks! The whole CD can be ordered, or downloaded (very modern!) and single songs are available for download at 99 cents.

Check track 13, Frank Sinatra Reads Poetry . . .

Support Disabled Vets & Get a Chance of Winning A "Patriot Tattoo" Carhartt Hooded Jacket

Come down to Patriot Tattoo 3705 West Lake Road (W.8th St.) and get a ticket to win a one of a kind Red, White & Blue all embroidered "Patriot Tattoo" Carhartt Hooded Jacket. All donations go to "Disabled American Veterans"

Winning ticket will be pulled December 20th so come and get your free ticket. You can get one ticket a day!!! ...and while you're at it PLEASE make a donation to "Disabled American Vets"

Spread the Word!!

Photo of Carhartt Hooded Jacket coming soon

All An Act’s Footlights Theatre Program

Calling all students ages 6 through 18! Come share your talents and be a part of our 37th annual summer production! The Footlight’s program began in 1975, and has exposed countless young people and their families to the magic of live Theatre and the Arts. This summer, students will rehearse “Seussical The Musical” in a seven- week program that will culminate when the students perform the show live, August 3, 4, & 5 at East High School. This program is free and open to all students in the City of Erie and is sponsored by The City of Erie Parks Department, All An Act Theatre Productions, and The Erie School District. Rehearsals generally run Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM each day. For more information regarding sign-up and rehearsal location, please visit www.allanact.net and click on “Footlights Theatre” or contact David W. Mitchell at (814) 450-8553 or e-mail at Director@allanact.net with any questions!

TREC Looking For Volunteers

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: To assist our 'Riders with Special Needs' on horseback as they enhance their Physical, Mental, Emotional and Social Skills through Safe Equine Assisted Therapy. No experience is required, just a love of horses and helping others. Volunteers help groom and tack the horses and 'sidewalk' with our Clients to ensure their safety while riding.

Classes run Monday-Saturday 9AM-12PM (approx.) and Monday-Thursday 4:30PM-7:30PM (approx.) TRAINING NOW! This is an inspiring and rewarding Volunteer experience...."Make A Difference, Volunteer"

For more details, please call Linda Sutto@ 474-5276, ext 11

Location - Corner of Platz and Sterrettania Rds.
Cost - No charge/No experience necessary
Link - www.trecerie.org 

Shakespeare Summer Nights: Coming Soon To Local Audiences

Attention, Shakespeare lovers: Gannon University in July will host six performances for its annual Shakespeare Summer Nights series.

Audiences will be treated to performances of Richard III and Return to The Forbidden Planet, a musical based on The Tempest. All performances are free and open to the public.

Richard III will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 14-16 in the Courtyard of the University’s Morosky Academic Center, 150 West 10th St. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. The rain location will be Gannon’s Schuster Theatre, 624 Sassafras St.

Return to the Forbidden Planet will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 21-23 at Schuster Theatre.

For more information, contact the Schuster Theatre Box Office at 814-871-7494.

Storytime at Werner Books

Join us at Werner Books every Wednesday at 10:30AM for storytime and crafts with Ms. Anne. Stories are directed at children ages 3 to 6 - siblings are welcome! We ask that children please be accompanied by an adult.

Werner Books is located in the Liberty Plaza next to Peggy's Restaurant. Free Kids and up

(814) 864-1565

Wed, Feb 16, 2011 - Wed, Jan 4, 2012 10:30AM

Werner Books
3514 Liberty St.
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-1565

NPAA Biennial Exhibit Erie and Meadville

July 28, - September 17, 2011

The Biennial Major Exhibit to be held at 1020 Holland St, Erie and the Heeschen Gallery, Meadville, PA

Opening reception in Erie, July 28th (7 - 9PM)  and in Meadville July 30th (7 - 9PM)

11th Annual Trathlon on Presque Isle State Park

The 11th Annual Trathlon on Presque Isle State Park will take place Saturday, August 27, 2011. All segments of the triathlon... the swim, the bike and the run... will start, transition and finish at the Waterworks Cookhouse Pavilion area. PI TRI 2011 is open to individuals and 2-3 person relay teams and will offer a high-quality, fun, safe and exciting multi-sport experience for all levels from first-time triathlon entrants to experienced triathletes.

Click here to Download your application

On line registration is now available at www.active.com

The Presque Isle Triathlon is a non-profit event and is run entirely by volunteers. All proceeds benefit Presque Isle State Park (via the Presque Isle Partnership) and other volunteering non-profit organizations whose time and presence contribute to the success of the triathlon. As a non-profit organization, the Presque Isle Partnership seeks to preserve, protect and enhance the park with projects that positively impact the educational and environmental facets of Presque Isle State Park.

For more information email: pitriathlon@verizon.net

Volunteers Needed for Big Back Yard Project

We are looking for volunteers to help finish the Big Back Yard Project. We had a great time in the fall! If you are interested, please contact SafeNet at 814-455-1774 and indicate that you would like more information about volunteering for the Big Back Yard Project. We look forward to hearing from you.

Discover Presque Isle Duathlon

The 21st Annual Discover Presque Isle Duathlon will be held Sunday, July 31, 2011.

The race is a 5 kilometer run, a 20 kilometer bike - featuring a full loop of scenic Presque Isle, followed by another 5 kilometer. Starting time is 7:00am. This year's race will start and end at the Beach 11 parking lot. The bike race will take place on the park's main road with one lane closed to traffic.

Download your application here.

If you'd like to support Presque Isle by donating...

Come Help in the Native Plant Gardens at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center!

Just like anything, there is no such thing as a maintenance-free garden. That is why we need you to help us in our effort to keep TREC at Presque Isle as beautiful as possible. Native plants provide special benefits to wildlife, the ecosystem and gardeners, along with looking gorgeous. Open volunteer days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am-3pm. Email trecgarden@hotmail.com to sign up to volunteer. Your help is greatly appreciated.

FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES IN THE PARK

Movies start at Dusk around 8pm

July 15, 2011 sponsored by the Milton Hershey School,
rain date July 29
August 5, 2011 sponsored by Erie Federal Credit Union,
rain date August 12

ARTS at the LABYRINTH

Tuesday, August 9,
Picnic in the Park with the Planets
5:00-6:00 Family Picnic
6:00-6:30 Green Picnic Contest Weigh-in
6:00-6:30 Waltz with the Planets
6:30-7:30 Mr. Tom Whiting, Astronomer, Presentation
“Our Astronomically Amazing Planets”
7:30 Green Picnic Prizes awarded.

The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad

July 2011 Schedule
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
1:00 PM from Perry Street Station
1:15 PM from Drake Well Station
2:30 PM from Rynd Farm Station (ONE WAY ONLY)
2:40 PM from Petroleum Centre Station (ONE WAY ONLY)

Family Special
EVERY DAY!
$50
(Regularly $67)
Two Adults and up to three children (ages 3-12).
Does not include Special Events.

Special Events:J

July 16th and 17th : 25th Railroad Anniversary
Activities - TBA
1 PM Train Ride

July 23rd: Train Robbery Fund Raiser
1 PM Train Ride
July 30th 5:15 PM: Murder Mystery
Departs from Perry St. Station
409 S. Perry St, Titusville

http://www.octrr.org/index.htm

Gannon at 8 Great Tuesdays

Visit the Gannon tent at the 8 Great Tuesdays concert series, which runs each Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. from July 12-Aug. 30 at the Liberty Park amphitheater on Erie's bayfront! Free giveaways and popcorn will be available each night. Gannon and Villa Maria College alumni who stop by the tent and update their contact information will be registered for a drawing to win a Gannon Tapestry Blanket on Aug. 31.

Enter to win $5,000 from the Erie Playhouse Reverse Raffle!

Erie Playhouse Reverse Raffle. Tickets are $50, and the grand prize is $5,000! Please consider supporting the Erie Playhouse and potentially winning big!

If $50 is a bit much for you to pay (as it is for me!), you can organize groups and buy tickets together if you like. For example, 5 people could pay $10 each for a ticket and split the prize 5 ways.

Grand prize (last ticket drawn) $5,000
400th ticket drawn $500
300th ticket drawn $300
200th ticket drawn $200
100th ticket drawn $100

Many additional prizes will be awarded throughout the event. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold, so at worst, your odds at the grand prize are 1 in 500.

The ticket price is $50 (Admits two people to event/winner need not be present to win). The Raffle will be held on August 7, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Harborcreek Social Hall (7275 Buffalo Road) and beer, pop, snacks, games of chance, and other forms of entertainment will be provided.

IF YOU WANT TO BUY A TICKET, email me at zachflock@gmail.com

Erie Zoo 2011 Calendar of Events

Cast Call

The United We Stand Theater Troupe will be holding auditions for its fall production, the comedy soap opera spoof, "Melancholy Heights." Auditions will be held Mon. and Tues., 06/27 and 06/28 at 7p.m. at the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Bldg., 717 State Street. Large cast. Adults needed between 30 and 45. Two younger actors needed also, one male and one female. Show dates are Fri. and Sat., 09/16 - 10/01 at the Renaissance Centre, 2nd floor. For more info., call Craig Schneider at 397-4742 or Rob at 490-7933.

Drake Well Museum and Park Events Calendar for 2011

Click here to download

The program schedule is tentative due to Capital Project construction and uncertain construction schedules. Please call 814 827 2797. Additional educational program schedule information will be available on the web and in local newspapers.

Smith's Hot Dog Volleyball Challenge

Don't miss the most heart-pumping event at Discover Presque Isle this summer! Sign up for the Smith's Hot Dog Volleyball Challenge on July 30-31 at Beach 6 on Presque Isle. Round robin pool play to insure maximum play time. On Sunday morning, there is also both a men's and a women's doubles tournament. There's a 36 team limit, so enter early! T-shirts will be awarded to first and second place finishers.

Entry fees are non-refundable. You can also print an application via check (made to "Discover Presque Isle"). All proceeds benefit Presque Isle State Park.


Enter the Smith's Hot Dog Volleyball Challenge today to guarantee your team's spot!

Click here to register online and pay via credit card.

Schedule
Saturday, July 30th at 9:00am; Co-Ed Sixes
Power and Intermediate Sixes (4 Men, 2 Women) Team Entry Fee: $120
Recreational Sixes (3 Men, 3 Women) Team Entry Fee: $120
Sunday, July 31th at 9:00am; Men's and Women's Doubles
Men's Doubles; Team Entry Fee: $40
Women's Doubles; Team Entry Fee: $40

Titusville Oil Festival

Friday, Saturday and Sunday - August 13, 14 & 15, 2010

2011 dates not verified as of 11/28/10.
5K race on Friday, Parade and fireworks on Saturday.
Crafters and vendors on Saturday and Sunday.

Theme for the 2010 Oil Festival is "The 60's: Feelin Groovy".

Downtown Titusville, PA (Crawford County PA.)

Annual festival event held in August with arts and crafts, vendors, flea market, auction, live music, brew festival, family activities, 5K race, parade, fireworks and more.

Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce, 814-827-2941

www.titusvillechamber.com

Summer Writing Workshops Offered

Hands on-sessions open to students in grades 4-12

Gannon University will offer three sessions of its Young Writers’ Workshops this summer.

Sessions will be offered June 27-July 1, July 11-15 and Aug. 8-12. The sessions are hands-on and are designed to help students in grades 4-12 develop their writing “process” and their writing projects so as to produce working manuscripts of publishable work.

All sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in room 3200 of Gannon’s Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach St. The fee is $125 for one session, or $200 for two.

Dr. Sally LeVan, professor, Gannon English department, and the Writing Project teachers will lead the workshops.

For more information or to register, contact Dr. LeVan at 814-871-7506.

View all of Gannon University's Summer Camps

Easy Cool Rewards

FirstEnergy’s utilities have launched a new energy efficiency program for Penelec customers called Easy Cool Rewards. The program is designed to help customers with central air conditioning save money on electricity bills, while helping FirstEnergy ease peak electricity demand during the summer months. Participants receive $60 in cash incentives and a professionally-installed Honeywell programmable thermostat (a $250 value) which can help customers reduce their heating and cooling costs by up to 15 percent. The program is being offered to a limited number of customers on a “first come” basis. For more information on Easy Cool Rewards call 1-855-801-6188.