The Landsdowne, a 300 foot ship docked at the end of the Sassafras Street pier, is sinking into the bay. It’s obvious that the ship has taken on water. I don’t know if it’s resting on the bottom or that the mooring lines are holding it up. Maybe it’s just the fact that the ship is encased in ice. Specialty Restaurants Corporation of California had planned to convert the Landsdowne into a floating restaurant but the company has run into financial problems. The barge, built in the 1880′s, has been parked at the pier since the Summer of 2001.
A plane from Chicago bound for Portland, Maine make an unscheduled stop at Erie International Airport on Thursday Dec 23 because a passenger has a possible heart attack. Hope the guy is OK and didn’t have to spend Christmas alone.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education announced that Frank Pogue, President of Edinboro University, is getting a 1.7 percent pay raise. It amounts to $2,941, putting his salary at $171,018. The pay raise covers the 2005-06 fiscal year and is retroactive to last July 1.
Partly because of the Quad games, snowshoeing has become a popular Winter pastime in the Erie PA area. Presque Isle State Park has planned a couple of guided snowshoe hikes: Jan 14, how animals survive in winter; Jan 28, tree and plant identification; Feb 15, winter magic; and Feb 25, tracking animals in snow. All the hikes run from 1-3 pm. Also, on Jan 18 and Feb 15 there will be a night hike from 6-8 pm. Snowshoes are available free of charge to those who make reservations and register. There’s no registration required for those who bring their own equipment. For information, call 814-833-7424 or 814-833-0351.
High school students in Pennsylvania can now apply to attend one of the eight 2006 Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence being offered next summer. There are typically 3,400 to 4,200 applicants each year for the 800 openings. The schools are full-scholarship residential programs held on college campuses across the state. All of the schools will run from June 25 through July 29. The application period runs through January. Forms are available at all public and private high school guidance offices or on the above link. The schools and their locations are: School for the Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, School for the Arts, Mercyhurst College, Erie, School for Global Entrepreneurship, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, School for Health Care, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, School for Information, Society and Technology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, School for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh, School for the Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh and the School for Teaching, Millersville University, Lancaster County.
