Archives

Help Erie celebrate its heritage by participating in “The Spirit of Erie,”  a community pageant that will pay tribute to Erie’s history as part of this summer’s Perry 200 Commemoration.

Auditions for the extravaganza, which will include singing, dancing, historical skits and more, are scheduled Monday and Tuesday, March 18 and 19, at 6 p.m. at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall, 1158 E. 12th St.

Participants will take part in eight performances between June 25 and June 30 at the Bayfront Convention Center.

Auditions are open to anyone age 7 or older; the show will include a large cast of children. No previous experience is necessary.

Singers should bring 16 bars of a song of their choice. Dancers should be ready to learn some steps and show off their skills; a combination will be taught at the auditions. Actors should prepare a short dramatic monologue.

For more information on the auditions or the pageant, call Richard Davis of the Erie Playhouse at 454-2852, Ext. 2 or e-mail him at richardd@erieplayhouse.org.

Mercyhurst University and the House of Mercy will host a global gifts fair on March 21, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the university’s Carolyn Herrmann Student Union.

The fair will showcase handcrafted original works of art, including jewelry, woodcarvings and knitted and woven items, made by area refugees from Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Proceeds will benefit the artists and their families.

Mercyhurst social work major Sister Kade Browne of Liberia, pictured above, recently began working with refugees in Erie as part of her Social Work Practice III course. According to Sister Kade, who is working on this project with Mercyhurst senior Brittany Miklos, many of the area’s refugees are unemployed and need help providing for their families.

Mercyhurst officials and the Sisters of Mercy are seeking craft donations to support the participating artists. Crafting materials such as fabrics, beads, buttons, yarn, thread, ribbon, clay, paper and paint will be accepted.

Donations of nonperishable food items and toiletries will also be collected before and during the gifts fair to benefit refugees. Collection boxes are available around the university’s Erie campus, including the lobby of Old Main, the Student Union and Egan Dining Hall.

Donations can also be made at the House of Mercy, 2005 Woodlawn Ave., and the Sisters of Mercy Mother House, 444 E. Grandview Blvd. For more information, contact Sister Kade at 824-3314, or Sister Michelle at 898-0167.

The Elizabeth Lee Black School at the Barber National Institute is looking for volunteer readers for its week-long celebration in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America.

Each reader will have 30 minutes to visit with the classroom and read a Dr. Seuss book. Books are provided, but if you have one you would like to share, you are welcome to bring it with you.

Readers are needed for 30-minute intervals between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day, Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8.

If you are interested in participating, please send an e-mail to Maureen Barber Carey at MaureenBarberCarey@BarberInstitute.org by Feb. 25 with the day(s) and time(s) you can volunteer or with any
questions. Call 878-5903 or visit www.barberinstitute.org for more information.

It’s a time for celebration at the Community Blood Bank. The 45th annual Donor Dinner takes places on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.

This year’s event offers a special honor to longtime donor Roman Kloecker, whose decades of donations have added up to 110 gallons for platelet pheresis. This special type of blood donation takes close to two hours per visit.

The dinner will recognize regular donors who have met milestones such as five, 10, 15, etc. gallons.

Donor chair people, who coordinate blood drives, will also be honored.

The Community Blood Bank said in a news release that it expects a crowd of 230 people at the event.

The theme of the dinner is “Follow Your Heart,” and the Community Blood Bank will premiere its new “Follow Your Heart” video in lieu of a guest speaker.

Here’s the video:

So far this spring, donations have been up and the Community Blood Bank has been able to maintain close to 100 percent blood supply level, said Dan Desrochers, director of Marketing & Community Relations for the Community Blood Bank, in an e-mail.

If the efforts of donors like Kloecker inspire you to follow your heart to the Community Blood Bank, it is located at 2646 Peach St. in Erie. The blood bank is open on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Video and logo courtesy of the Community Blood Bank

"Ophelia" by John William Waterhouse.

In the play Hamlet, the character Ophelia meets her fate in the shallow waters of a brook, the victim of depression and a broken heart.

Taking its name from the Shakespearean tragedy’s maiden, the national Ophelia Project, which is headquartered in Erie,  seeks to curbing bullying and in particular, relational aggression in children and adolescents.

For 10 years, the Ophelia Project has worked in Erie schools and after-school programs to provide students with the skills needed to counter bullying.

Their efforts wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers. Last year, local volunteers donated 20,000 hours to the Ophelia Project in a variety of roles.

Mentor

The Ophelia Project is looking for volunteers of all ages for its mentorship programs.

The STAR program at the 10th and Holland Neighborhood Arthouse need volunteer mentors each Thursday at 3:30 p.m through May. The classes last one hour. Mentors can make a weekly or biweekly commitment.

The Girltalk program seeks strong, positive female mentors of all ages.

Lastly, Raps mentors are needed to volunteer at Diehl and Jefferson schools through June 1. Raps mentors should be college age or young adults.

Help out at events

The Ophelia Project is partnering with the Erie chapter of Mothers Against Teen Violence to host a Peaceful Solutions Workshop at the Henderson Methodist Church on East 10th Street on April 21 as part of Global Youth Service Day. Volunteers are needed to help run the workshop.

Another upcoming event is the project’s Strike Out Against Suicide and Bullying fundraiser, which will be held on April 15. Volunteers are asked to sell tickets in advance, work the event or even just gather a team and participate. The Ophelia Project is currently accepting prize donations.

More opportunities

Can’t commit to a mentoring or event volunteer position? The Ophelia Project is always looking for people to work in their offices doing clerical and cleaning work.

Donations of snacks for the after-school programs, A.C. Moore gift cards for program supplies and stickers are needed as well.

Why volunteer?

Lora Caldwell, volunteer services manager at the Ophelia Project answers that question with the story of her father.

Then 86 years old, he participated in the Take Back the City event several years ago by taking up a broom and sweeping Perry Square.

“Passersby said, ‘If this 86 year-old man can do it, I can give back too,” said Caldwell.

The Ophelia Project gives volunteers the unique experience of working closely with children and adolescents.

“You’re making a connection,” said Caldwell. “And you’re giving back to the community during time usually spent on Facebook or watching TV.

“You’re contributing instead of just sitting around.”

To get involved, contact Caldwell at morningstar7@verizon.net.

Photo courtesy of Wikicommons