BIANCA ELIA: It was Bianca Elia of Kane who celebrated her 10th
birthday on the Today show.

A reader had seen a young girl on the program but knew only that
she was from Kane and having a special birthday. The name, she
thought, was Monica.

Several Kane readers contacted us with the identifying
information.

Linda Lorenzo of the Kane Area School District wrote, “Today in
your column you asked about the 10 year old girl from Kane who
recently celebrated her birthday in New York City. Her name is
Bianca Elia. She is a 4th grade student at Chestnut Street
Elementary School.”

“Bianca turned 10 on Tuesday, Dec. 2, the day she was seen on
the Today show with Al Roker.

“Bianca has one sister and two brothers. Her parents own Pepe’s
Pizzeria and Bistro here in Kane. What a nice girl from a community
minded family to feature on her special day!”

Her parents are Megan and Charlie Elia of Kane.

ON AIR: Speaking of other media, Jim Flynn in Erie tells us that
Jamie Himes Mangan of Marvindale will be featured on National
Public Radio this Sunday in its “Impact on War” series. Jamie is
well known to Era readers – and people literally across the country
– for having gotten an act of Congress passed which allowed her to
adopt her military dog, Rex.

It was in June of 2005 that Jamie, then a soldier serving in
Iraq, was severely injured by an IED while patroling the streets
of Baghdad with Rex. Jamie had a lengthy recovery but Rex was not
hurt in the blast.

We’ll be interested in hearing Sunday’s story. NPR is on in
Bradford at 100.9 and 90.1 (depending on exactly location). Tune
in.

THAT ROBIN: “That robin that Ron Housler saw last week made it
as far as Johnsonburg by Monday, the 8th. I was home for lunch and
out on our Japanese apple tree was a big, fat male robin. After
being in that awful snowstorm that went through the Erie/Corry area
on Sunday, I was sure hoping that that robin was bringing spring as
my Christmas present!” says Bill Lenze, Johnsonburg.