On Monday, the Holyoke (Massachusets) Redevelopment Committee will get an update on negotiations between the city and Mandalay Sports Entertainment of Los Angeles. The company has proposed relocating its Double-A baseball team from Erie, Pa and investing $110 million to build a 6,500-seat stadium, housing, offices and retail space. Mandalay, owner of the Erie SeaWolves, in March announced a new three year lease with Erie County Convention Center Authority that will keep the team in Erie through 2008.

I talked to an employee of the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, the EMTA is the area bus company in Erie, and asked if ridership has increased with gas prices going up. The reply was yes but will they keep riding the bus. In September, when gas prices spiked ridership increased but then dropped off when the prices cam down later in the year. It would be interesting to see the actual statistics.

Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy finished second at the National Academic Decathlon in San Antonio. Great job. They won the title last year.

Creating a Safe School trainers from the national Ophelia Project office in Erie will be at 21st Century Preparatory School in Racine WI on May 7. The Ophelia Project is dedicated to helping girls form healthy peer relationships while creating a safe social climate for all youths.

Ray Everett presented the research he did during last summer at the Marshall University annual Forensic Science Research Day. Everett, a maters candidate at Marshall, earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and forensic science at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Former Mecyhurst College basketball great Brent Swain is organizing an Alumni Basketball game which is scheduled for September 9. All proceeds from the gate will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association in Erie. Brent is looking for raffle prizes such as gift certificates, movie tickets, sports team tickets, and autographed memorabilia. You can contact him through the link.

Erie starter Humberto Sanchez was brilliant and the bullpen idn’t blow it as the Erie SeaWolves beat Binghamton 1-0. Erie got on the board against reliever Ryan Cullen in the seventh. After Kody Kirkland reached Cullen for a double to start the frame, Mike Rabelo bunted him to third and Kelly Hunt brought him in with a sacrifice fly to right. The Erie bullpen was able to make the lead stand up, with Chris Homer tossing a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save. Lefthander William Collazo (2-1, 2.45) will get the start for the B-Mets against Virgil Vasquez (1-2, 3.42) of Erie. Game time is 1:05 at Jerry Uht Park in Erie.

Quarterback Adam Haught passed for five touchdowns and ran for one to lead the Johnstown Riverhawks to a 57-38 victory over the first-place Erie Freeze.

Allegheny College won its ninth NCAC conference men’s golf title with a two-day total 895.

The Cat Nation Fanciers 17th Annual All-Breed Cat Show will be held at the JMC Ice Arena, 423 West 38 Street, today from 10-4. Cost is $5 per person.

The Erie area March of Dimes WalkAmerica will take place at Presque Isle State Park of April 30. With Jenny very pregnant, Eden (Stephanie) is walking for her. Every year, half a million babies in the U.S. are born prematurely. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many life long disabilities. The funds we raise in WalkAmerica support research that saves babies’ lives. Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Click here to sponsor the Erie Bloggers team.

The Allegheny College Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Ronald Stitt, will present a concert on Sunday, April 30 at 3:15 pm in Shafer Auditorium. Pre-concert music will be provided by the Allegheny Trombone Ensemble. Admission is free.

The kick-off party for the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central PA 4th Annual Erie SeaWolves Run/Walk for Epilepsy will be held next on Tuesday, May 2nd, 5:30 pm at the Palace Business Centres, 915 State Street.

The Mercyhurst College Political Science Department hosts Stafford T Thomas, professor emeritus of political science at California State University, Chico, who will lecture Friday, May 5, at 7 pm in Walker Recital Hall. His talk is free and open to the public.

Lake Erie Speedway will open on Friday May 12.

The Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force 4th annual Bike Around the Bay will be held in Erie, PA on May 20, 2006. Enjoy Erie’s bay and lakeshore as you bike 10, 30 or 50 miles around scenic Presque Isle State Park and bayside vistas. Check out the new Tom Ridge Environmental Center on your route. Funds raised benefit the Earth Force program serving 2,500 youth in western Pennsylvania. Bring the entire family. Grand prize: Cannondale bike and tag-a-long.