On Friday, Judge John Bozza ruled that Invest Erie Community Development Corporation can buy the city owned property at 19th and Parade. A plaza anchored by a grocery store were planed for the property. After around 7 years of Invest Erie making no progress in getting anything built, the city tried to get Commonwealth Realty to develop the property. Invest Erie has (or had) $1.3 million in grants to purchase the property and get the plaza built. Recently, the city transferred a $300,000 state grant to another project. Riesbeck’s Foods has repeatedly said that they would locate a Mor For Less Food Store at the site when a developer builds them a store.
The Rev Sean W Rowe was elected May 19 on the first ballot to be the next bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Rowe is rector of St John’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, PA. Rowe will succeed the Rt Rev Robert D Rowley Jr, 65. Rowley, the diocese’s seventh bishop, announced in July 2006 that he was taking a “terminal sabbatical leave” and retiring. The diocese comprises about 4,800 Episcopalians worshipping in 36 congregations.
A reception hall called Capers at 2743 E 38th in Erie will be opening this August. There is a bit of a hall shortage around Erie. You almost have to plan your wedding date of when you can get a place for a reception. Capers along with the Erie Bayfront Convention Center should really help. The Erie Bayfront Convention Center is now booking events for the Summer of 2007 and beyond. Rooms for weddings, banquets, meetings, exhibits and classes range from space for 52 to 1920 people with theater style seating for up to 4,114 people.
Mercyhurst College will make history on more than one front when it graduates its largest class ever – 925 students – 697 from its Erie campus and 228 from North East – this weekend. Graduation for traditional-aged students – 548 strong – takes place at the Louis J Tullio Arena today at 2 pm. Yesterday, Mercyhurst celebrated the graduation of its adult and graduate students. Of the 149 graduates, 95 are receiving master’s degrees from Mercyhurst’s five graduate programs; 48 are earning bachelor’s degrees; five, associate of science degrees; and one associate of arts degree. Also on Saturday, Mercyhurst North East graduated the largest class in its history with 228 students.
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College held its spring 2007 commencement on Saturday in the Louis J Tullio Arena. Behrend has 459 students graduate this spring – 10 associate, 412 baccalaureate and 37 graduate degree candidates.
The Mercyhurst College men’s lacrosse team beat NYIT 13-10. The top ranked Mercyhurst Lakers and the defending champion Le Moyne Dolphins will square off on May 27 at M and T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the Division II national championship.
Roger Ness and the Aeros bullpen snapped the Erie SeaWolves’ three-game winning streak Saturday night. The SeaWolves were shut out for the second time this season as they fell on Saturday night to the Akron Aeros by a score of 4-0. Erie and Akron wrap up a three-game series at Jerry Uht Park on Sunday at 1:05 pm. RHP Eulogio De La Cruz takes the hill for the ‘Wolves and he will be opposed by RHP JD Martin.
Geena Prough of Farmington, Mich has signed a national letter of intent to go to Mercyhurst and play hockey for the Lakers. Prough, a forward who played at Lawrence Academy had verbally committed to Boston College but had not signed. BC coach Tom Mutch resigned after allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a player. Mutch’s wife is the coach at Lawrence Academy.
Justin Rivera of St. Augustine Prep in Atlantic City NJ has signed a letter of intent to attend Gannon University in Erie, PA on a wrestling scholarship. Rivera had a career record of 115-28. His number of wins ties the school record of current Gannon wrestler Frank McGrath.
The 2nd leg of the International Bowhunting Organization 2007 National Championship Triple Crown will be held in the Erie area on June 15-17. The event takes place at the Gem City Outdoorsmen’s Club, 6701 Van Camp Rd, Edinboro, PA 16412.
Bobby and Kathy Rohrer announced that Sunday, May 20 will be the Dan McGarvie Memorial feature for the Challenger cars at Eriez Speedway. The Penn-Ohio Challenge race will be run in memory of the veteran racer who suffered a massive heart attack while competing in opening night races last week. McGarvie had raced locally for several years, usually in a black 3 symbolizing his favorite NASCAR legend. He is survived by his wife, Wendy, and three children and will be sadly missed by his racing family, as well as everyone he knew. I short memorial service will be held prior to the evening’s races.
The Pittsburgh River Rats beat the last place Erie Freeze 86-72.
Gannon University will host a free seminar designed to help veterans interested in starting their own businesses. The seminar, From Service to Success, will run from 7:30 am to 3 pm. Thursday, May 24 in the Yehl Room of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street. It also is targeted at veterans who already own a business, and is sponsored by the Gannon Small Business Development Center and Paulsen Productions. With a focus on veterans, the seminar is being held in recognition of Memorial Day so that those who served their country can learn more about the resources available to help them succeed in business. Richard Ramirez, president and founding director of the United States Association of Veterans in Business, will give the keynote address. The event includes a free continental breakfast and free lunch. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call 814-871-7232 or 877-258-6648. The Gannon University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves clients in Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Warren counties. Its consultants offer expertise in areas like accounting, finance, marketing, research, banking, international business, environmental issues, and small business ownership.
The 2007 Memorial Day Shootout will be held at the host venue of Family First Sports Park in Erie PA, May 26-28. Over 150 teams are expected. The Memorial Day Shootout is for premier soccer teams ages U9-U19 and is among the top college recruiting tournaments. The tournament will feature some of the best boys and girls soccer teams in the United States and Canada. This is a US CLUB Soccer event. USYSA teams are permitted to participate.
Lake Erie Speedway and the Erie Runners Club are teaming up to host the 6k Run and Walk and 1/2 Mile Youth Race on June 2, 2007 to benefit the St Martins Center. This highly charged event will begin with a 1/2 mile youth race, which will take place around the oval racetrack. Immediately after the youth race, the 6k race will begin at the entrance of Lake Erie Speedway on Delmas Drive. The first leg of the race will be run on a hard packed dirt road. Runners will then make a square loop around the Speedway property on paved roads making their way back onto the oval and ending at the track’s start/finish line. This event will mark the first time the Erie Runners Club comes to the speedway. While there, runners can visit exhibit booths from Saint Vincent Hospital, St Martin Center, Erie Federal Credit Union, Point Click Learn and more. Runners will also get to stay at Lake Erie Speedway that night, for a full night of NASCAR Whelen Championship Racing. Prices are $20 for the 6k run, $10 for the youth ½ mile run, and $10 for a non-race participant.
Penn State Behrend’s popular College for Kids returns this summer with over 150 weeklong classes to educate, entertain, and inspire young people ages 6 to 18. College for Kids courses begin June 11 and continue through August 10, with the exception of Fourth of July week. Classes are organized by age and held during morning or afternoon sessions, with before- and after-care available for an additional fee. Returning classes include past favorites in guitar, golf, knitting, word processing, PowerPoint, model rocketry, acting, sign language, and scrap booking instruction; World War II history, “Engineering MythBusters,” and “Dinosaur Discovery.” New courses this year: “Storm Chasing 101″ taught by WJET-TV meteorologist Tom Atkins; two finance classes, “Kids and Money” for the younger student and “Show Me the Money” for teens; “Let’s Cheer,” “Conversational Spanish,” “Introduction to Chess,” “Star Wars and the Roman Empire,” “Crafts from the Beach,” “Space Camp: Return to the Moon,” and an investigation of the paranormal called “X-Files.” “We also have a very special opportunity this year for kids ages 12 to 18–a chance to paint a mural on the fountain in Perry Square under the direction of local artist AJ Noyes,” Mary Trott, College for Kids program coordinator, noted. “Because of the significance of this community service project, this will be one of the rare College for Kids classes that meets for a full day.” Perry Square fountain painting will take place the week of July 23. For artists not old enough to participate in the mural project or unable to commit to a full-day class, Noyes also will teach College for Kids courses in hand-sewing and beading, craft painting, nature drawing and painting, and portrait drawing. Costs vary by course but start at $70 per weeklong class. Before- or after-class supervision is available for an additional $10 per week. Schedule and registration information will be distributed through area schools and also is available by calling 814-898-6212 or clicking here. Mail and online registration will begin in early May. Participants are encouraged to register early for best class selection.
The Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul will play a concert at Jerry Uht Park in Erie, PA on July 31 as part of “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Triple Play Ballpark Tour.” Tickets go on sale June 2 at 10 am. Tickets can be purchased at the SeaWolves box office at Jerry Uht Park and on SeaWolves.com. Children under 12 get in FREE with each paid adult ticket holder.
