88.5 JAZZ FM celebrates B-day at Nelson's

Students of Mercyhurst College’s Communication Department are hosting a First Anniversary Birthday Bash for Mercyhurst's own 88.5 JAZZ FM. The event takes place Friday, Feb. 5, at Nelson's in downtown Erie, starting at 7 p.m., and will include jazz music from Frank Singer, Joe Dorris and other local musicians along with Ahimsa Beat. Free and open to the public.

CONCERT CHOIR TO PERFORM FEB. 7

The Mercyhurst College Concert Choir, directed by Rebecca Ryan, will perform John Rutter’s “Requiem” and several other sacred songs at a concert on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel. The proceeds will go directly toward the rebuilding of a music school in Port Au Prince, Haiti, that was destroyed in the recent earthquake.
Accompanied by organ and instrumental ensemble, they’ll present the poignant piece that includes many recognizable melodies and movements. The program also includes the Collegiate Singers performing “Music Spread Thy Voice Around,” led by student conductor Andrew Fergusson.
The Singers are a group of 19 Mercyhurst students scheduled to participate in the 2010 Pennsylvania College Choral Association Festival at Clarion University the previous day under the direction of Paul Salamunovich, conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The Feb. 7 concert is free and open to the public; call 824-2394 for details.

FORUM ON POVERTY

Erie Together, founded as a catalyst for social change around the issue of poverty in Erie County, will host a forum to engage community-wide response. Erie Together partners – the Mercyhurst Civic Institute, Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) and United Way – will host the free public forum Tuesday, Feb. 9, with two sessions: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center, 7792 Peach St.; and 6 to 9 p.m. at the R. Benjamin Wiley Learning Center, 1006 W. 10th St. Reservations are urged and can be made by calling 456-2937, ext. 232. The forum calls for a discussion of the current needs and desired outcomes for Erie County in developing a community plan to address poverty at both the systemic and individual levels. According to the latest census bureau data, 24 percent of Erie residents lived below the poverty threshold in 2008.

WOMEN IN TRANSITION

Prom gowns and cocktail dresses that once adorned the female form will become art of a different sort and be auctioned off on Monday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mercyhurst’s Cummings Gallery. Student artists have transformed dresses into everything from lamp shades to wall hangings for the “Women in Transition: Silent Art Auction.” Mercyhurst senior communication major Jordan Zangaro conceived the novel fundraiser, which benefits “Grace House,” a new program designed to help women returning from military service make a smooth transition back into the Erie community. Mary Gamble, wife of Mercyhurst President Dr. Tom Gamble, will offer remarks; Rebecca Styn will MC. For additional information, contact Zangaro.

VALENTINE'S DAY CONCERT

The Mercyhurst College Wind Ensemble will present a program titled “Reading, Seeing and Hearing” on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. in the college’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Dr. Scott Meier will conduct the group in music created in response to great works of literary and visual art. The event is free and open to the public. Call 824-2394.

EVENING OF JAZZ

Dr. Scott Meier will conduct the Mercyhurst College Jazz Ensemble in concert on Friday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. Scheduled in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, Vocal/Combo Night is an intimate evening of jazz that features jazz combos with vocalists and student arrangements. It’s free and open to the public. Call 824-2394.

SOUL FOOD DINNER

The Marion Shane Multicultural Center at Mercyhurst College in collaboration with Alpha Phi Alpha, Diversity 101 and the Mercyhurst International Student Organization will celebrate Black History Month with the annual Soul Food Dinner on Friday, Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Room of the student union. The festivities include a fashion show with model appearances by Mercyhurst Erie and North East students. The dinner is free and open to the public, although donations will be requested for Haiti relief efforts. Reservations are required. Please call the Multicultural Center at 824-2369 for a reserved seat or visit the Multicultural Center in the student union to make your reservation by Wednesday, Feb. 10.

HAITI RELIEF WEEK

From one corner of campus to the other, Mercyhurst College students, faculty and staff are marshaling forces for a full-blown Haiti Relief Week Feb. 1-5.

“Our compassionate and enthusiastic students have been championing this week from the day of the disaster,” said Campus Ministry Director Greg Baker of the fundraising event. “This is truly a college-wide effort with broad support spanning President Gamble’s office, student clubs and organizations and athletics.”

More than 600 red bracelets tagged “Relieve Recover Rebuild” will be sold across campus for a minimum donation of $2 each. A Chinese Auction will be held daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Egan Dining Hall, and proceeds from Wednesday’s Chili Cook-off, slated from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the student union, will go toward Haiti relief efforts.

In addition, volunteers will collect donations at campus events all week long, and groups of students and staff will fan out across the Erie community, going door-to-door collecting contributions on Thursday and Friday between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
All money raised will go toUNICEF and Paul Farmer’s Partners in Health, a well-established health care charity in Haiti, Baker said. The goal of the Feb. 1-5 initiative is to raise $2,500 on campus. With matching funds from Mercyhurst Student Government and UNICEF, that could result in a donation of $7,500.

A number of other events are still being planned. To stay updated, please visit hurstathletics.com.

For more information on Haiti Relief Week, e-mail Baker, or call him at 824-2301.

Meanwhile, the friendly competition among the college's academic schools to see which can raise the most money for Haiti continues. To donate, click here.

CHILI COOK-OFF

Visitors to the Feb. 3 "Rock 'n Roll Chili Bowl" cook-off will be able to sample 20 chili variations of all kinds, while contributing to Mercyhurst's Haiti relief effort. Competing for the prestigious title of "Best Chili on the Hill" are Becky Van Riper (Cohen Health Center); Jim Tometsko (Human Resources); Lorraine Frownfelter (IT); Julie Resler (Laker Inn) with two entries; Meghan Cleary (GA in Academic Support); sophomores Alisha Paris and Mandy Snyder; Nell Hardy (Campus Ministry); Paul Colontino (Women's Hockey); Dennis Donovan (Police and Safety); Aaron and Darcey Kemp (Athletics and Center for Student Engagement & Leadership Development); Jamie Breneman (Human Resources); Matt Platz (Police and Safety); Father Jim Piszker (Chaplain); Steve Perkins (Marketing); Debbie Wurst (Admissions); Barry Agostine (Maintenance); Chris and Jennifer Coons (Admissions and Student Financial Services); Betsy Frank (Human Resources); and sophomores Jamie Papesh and Amanda Miles. All categories are represented, so there will be plenty of competition for Best Traditional, Best Hot & Spicy, Best Vegetarian, and Most Unique Ingredient. The chili cook-off, co-sponsored by Campus Ministry and Human Resources, is part of Mercyhurst's campuswide Haiti Relief Week. The quarter you pay for each chili sample will go directly toward earthquake relief. The cook-off runs Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Great Room of the Student Union.

'RAW EDGES'

The Mercyhurst Dancers will be featured in their annual “Raw Edges” concert on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. The program includes new cutting-edge works by innovative emerging choreographers. Each performance will also include “Take-a-Break,” an opportunity for the audience to chat with the choreographers, moderated by Mark Santillano, assistant professor of dance. As part of the dance department’s yearlong celebration of its 35th anniversary, the program will also include performances by returning dance alumni. Tickets are $15.50 for adults, $12.50 for seniors and students; $7.50 for President’s Cardholders; $5 for youths; and $1 for Mercyhurst students with ID. Call 824-3000 to order tickets.