Erie's Jefferson Educational Society sets sights on Michelle Obama for 2023 summit

As the Jefferson Educational Society wrapped up another successful Global Summit, Erie native Steve Scully said the group is trying hard to land former First Lady Michelle Obama to headline the 2023 summit.

Scully, who hosts a national politics program on SiriusXM Radio and serves as chairman of the Jefferson summit, played a key role in securing John Dickerson, Judy Woodruff and Fiona Hill for this year’s event.

Scully also provided powerful film clips of Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama during various presentations. Dickerson, who gave a first-class program on the American presidency, seemed touched by clips that Scully had unearthed of his late mother, pioneer TV journalist Nancy Dickerson.

All and all, it was an impressive 18-event series that took place in Erie and Redlands, California.

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● Speaking of politics, former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, who has worked as an NBC sportscaster in recent years, is catching a lot of heat for his public support of Herschel Walker. Flutie was active in the campaign and introduced Walker on election night before Walker conceded to Sen. Raphael Warnock.

Flutie and Walker have been close friends since both played for Donald Trump’s New Jersey Generals of the old United States Football League. Flutie said he owes no apologies for backing Walker, saying their deep friendship goes back more than three decades.

● A list of the top gifts to colleges made in 2022 was led by Erie native Jean Salata, who with his wife, Melanie, donated $200 million to Harvard University for its new interdisciplinary climate institute.

Jean Salata, a 1984 graduate of Cathedral Prep, previously donated $5 million to that school, which was used to build the new $12.5 million Salata Technology and Innovation Center on West 10th Street.

For subscribers: See the renovations at Cathedral Prep

Salata is the son of local architect Orlando Salata, who designed such Erie buildings as Mercyhurst University’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center and the most recent addition to the Barber National Institute. I’m sure Orlando Salata, who died in 2009, would be proud of his son.

● Old friend and Prep classmate Dinty Moore is receiving a lot of publicity for his book, “To Hell With It.” Moore said it would make an excellent gift for any lapsed Catholic on your Christmas list. He added that if he sells a few more books, he might be able to buy some indulgences from the Vatican.

● It’s a pleasure to hear Erie’s Pat Monahan singing “Shake Up Christmas” and “Christmas Island” on the 24-hour Christmas music show on Classy 100. The songs are from Monahan’s “Christmas in Tahoe” album.

● I see the Erie Zoo hopes to receive donations of copies of DVDs that will be shown to the animals during the winter months. It’s probably a good idea, unless somebody donates a copy of “The Great Escape,” which could give the animals ideas.

● Norb Malthaner, who died Dec. 3 at the age of 92, raised three outstanding children with his wife, Kay. The Rev. John Malthaner, pastor of St. Luke Parish, is one of the most respected priests in the Erie Catholic Diocese, and Michael Malthaner, the talented musician and composer, ranks with the area’s best organists. Maureen Thompson, the apple of Norb’s eye, also survives.

Norb enjoyed an impressive career as one of Erie’s most respected pipe organ builders.

1930-2022: Norbert "Norb" Francis Malthaner

● For a while, it looked as if anything related to Christopher Columbus was fast disappearing from public buildings and grounds. But in recent months, the old explorer is making a comeback.

A panel of Philadelphia judges recently ruled that the 146-year-old Columbus statue in the southern part of the city will stay put. A plywood box concealing the statue from public viewing has been dismantled. Another judicial group in Syracuse ruled the city’s Columbus statue must be restored, and lawsuits to restore Columbus statues in Pittsburgh and Chicago are pending.

I can just see the big smile one the face of my father-in-law, Vic Rotunda.

● Former Villa Maria Academy students are mourning the death of Sister Martha Ann Rinderle, SSJ, who died at 84 on Dec. 9. Sister Martha Ann was a highly respected teacher at more than a dozen Catholic schools throughout the Erie Diocese.

1938-2022: Sister Martha Ann Rinderle, SSJ

● Gus Pine, who has headed the Bayfront Convention Center for the past six years, will have some big shoes to fill when he takes over for Casey Wells as executive director of Erie Events. Wells, who is retiring in January, recommended Pine for the job, which was enough to convince the Erie Convention Center Authority Board that Pine is up to the job.

More: Erie Events picks Gus Pine to succeed Casey Wells as executive director

Kevin Cuneo can be reached at kevin.cuneo1844@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Jefferson Educational Society seeks Michelle Obama for '23 Erie summit