Erie Insurance announced strong financial results for the second quarter 2007. The Company also announced that Jeffrey A Ludrof, president and chief executive officer, will be leaving the Company and the board of directors for personal reasons (he has Hodgkin’s disease. Ed. note: Ludrof is quoted as saying he is in good health) and that John J. Brinling Jr. will serve as interim president and CEO while the Board begins a search for a replacement for Mr. Ludrof. In addition, the Company announced that the board of directors has unanimously elected Thomas B. Hagen as Chairman of the Board.
Net income was $70.5 million for the second quarter of 2007, a 25.3 percent increase from $56.3 million for the same period in 2006. Net income per share-diluted increased to $1.11 per share, compared to $0.86 per share in the comparable quarter in 2006. Net operating income per share increased by 25.6 percent to $1.09 per share in the second quarter of 2007, from $0.87 per share, for the same period one year ago.

A 17 year old Iraqi male was arrested on felony forgery charges in Ohio near Ashtabula. The teenager, who police can not identify, had been traveling from Detroit to Erie, Pa and was on his way back to Detroit. He was carrying a forged drivers license.

The regional blood supply, already at the lowest levels of the year continue to drop in the face of light donor turnout and heavy usage by local patients. Most of the nation is in the grips of a terrible blood shortage and as a result the Community Blood Bank will be unable to get any outside help to alleviate this critical blood shortage. All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and until 7:30pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9 am -12:30 pm. Photo ID required.

Are you looking to donate unused items to a charity that reaches families? Erie County Executive Mark A. DiVecchio announced that the Erie County Office of Children and Youth (OCY) will hold its 11th Annual Yard Sale and Chinese and Silent Auctions August 10th and 11th at the Faith Lutheran Church located at 5414 East Lake Road. The event, organized by county employees, Faith Lutheran Church members and community volunteers, is expected to generate over $8,000 in “special activities” funds for abused and neglected children.
“The children that benefit from these donations are those in the community that need the most help. I commend our county employees and the Erie community for their commitment to this event. The level of participation and dedication to the success of this event shows that we are truly a county that cares,” DiVecchio said.
Area businesses and individual citizens are a big part of the success of this event. Each year Smith’s Hot Dogs and Plum Crazy Entertainment provide food and entertainment. Yard sale lovers can stop by all day on both Friday and Saturday.
The Office of Children and Youth, within the Erie County Department of Human Services, delivers services to abused and neglected children and their families. Mary Jo Cline, a 23-year employee of OCY and coordinator of this event, explained, “We do this event to even the playing field for the kids we serve. The Special Activities Fund was established to allow these children opportunities they may not otherwise be able to experience, such as class trips, athletic activities, and extra-curricular activities at school, and to purchase items to bolster self esteem,” said Cline.

Edward M Gabriel, former US Ambassador to Morrocco and now President and CEO of the Washington DC based public affairs firm, The Gabriel Company, LLC, has joined the Board of Directors of Tri-Valley Corporation (AMEX: TIV). A graduate of Gannon University in accounting, Dr Gabriel was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Gannon and is a member of the University Economics Honor Society.

NYSE Regulation announced Robert A Marchman has been appointed to lead the Enforcement division, reformed after the consolidation of NYSE Regulation’s member regulation program into the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Prior to joining the Exchange in 1989, Marchman was a branch chief in the US Securities and Exchange’s Division of Enforcement in Washington, DC. He began his career at the NYSE as an enforcement director and is currently an executive vice president. Marchman is a magna cum laude graduate of Allegheny College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and received his JD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Phil Bransom, former Media Director at First Assembly of God in Erie PA, is filming his first full-length film titled “Train Master” about kids and trains.

Jair Jurrjens fanned 10 and walked none in a 3 hit complete game shutout as the Erie SeaWolves beat the New Britain Rock Cats by a score of 5-0. The SeaWolves and Rock Cats meet in the rubber match of their three-game series at New Britain Stadium on Thursday night…7:05 First Pitch. RHP Eddie Bonine (11-5, 3.39 ERA) takes the mound for the ‘Wolves as he looks to become the first pitcher in the league to reach the 12-win plateau. Bonine will be opposed by rightie Josh Hill (2-0, 4.26 ERA).

Former Mercyhurst College men’s lacrosse player, Pat Merrill, was selected first overall in the National Lacrosse League Expansion Draft by the league’s newest franchise, which will be based in Boston. Merrill (2000-02), a 28-year-old defenseman, was a 2002 first round draft choice of the Toronto Rock

The Fresno Falcons announced that the team has re-signed forward Dave Borrelli. Borrelli played four years of college hockey at Mercyhurst College, where as a senior he led all NCAA Division I players in points-per-game (1.55) and was second in goals-per-game (0.85).

The Erie Downtown Thursday Night Block Party on August 2 takes place in front of Sherlock’s, 508 State St. Enjoy free music by New Wave Nation and Nerds Inc.

“Chronicles of Light” by Anna Tomczak will be on display and for sale from Aug 2-Sept 11 at Glass Growers Gallery, 10 E Fifth St.

Enjoy the music of the Erie Heights Brass Ensemble on Thursday, August 2 at 7 pm at the Patricia McCain Amphitheater at the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park. This FREE concert is part of the Arts at the Arboretum series.

The Motorcycle, Car, Boat and Truck show called the Lake Erie Classic will be held August 3-5 at Erie International Airport, Tom Ridge Field.

Dan Rice Days will be held August 3-4 will be held in Girard, PA. A new addition to the celebration will be an antique road show to be held at the Culberston House. Entertainment for this year include Tennesse Back Porch, Presque Isle Chapter Sweet Adelines, along with DJ Bill Page and an Erie Zoo representative will have animals for viewing. McQuillen’s 8th annual “Cruise In” will be Friday, August 3 from 5:30 to 9:30PM There will be live entertainment, refreshments and door prizes.

The 15th Annual Erie Art Museum’s Blues and Jazz Festival, the largest jazz and blues event in the Erie region, is a 2 day Festival held August 4 and 5 at Frontier Park in Erie, Pa. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. A variety of festival fare will be available from local vendors and restaurants. Admission to all Festival events is free.
Saturday August 4 – 12 pm One World Tribe with the UpRise African Drum and Dance Ensemble, 2 pm Familiar Spirit Band, 4 pm Geoff Achison, 6 pm Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, 8 pm Junior Brown
Sunday August 5 – 12 pm Gem City Jazz Band, 2 pm Cats A Bear, 4 pm Babik, 6 pm Stew Cutler Trio, 8 pm Rashied Ali Quintet
Ongoing: WQLN Kids Tent, Festival Fare, LEAF Arboretum Tours/Green Tag

The Battles Museum will be the backdrop for Battle for the Yellow House, a Civil War encampment and battle re-enactment August 4-5. Scheduled in conjunction with Dan Rice Days, the re-enactment is expected to bring in approximately 200 re-enactors. Battle for the Yellow House will include open camp hours, drilling and firing demonstrations, two battles, candlelight tours, a Sunday morning church service and a book signing. Battle Re-Enactments will be held Sat at 3 pm and Sun at 2 pm. The Candlelight Tour is Sat at 7 pm, reservations required. For additional information, please call (814) 454-1813 Ext 24.

The Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association will host its 2007 steak fry on Saturday, August 4, at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The annual event, which will be held at the Wilson Picnic Grove on the campus of Penn State Behrend, begins with a social hour at 5 pm, followed by the dinner’s signature “grill your own” steak fry at 6 pm. The fund-raiser is open to all Penn State alumni. Proceeds benefit the Lake Erie Chapter’s Robert W Sparks scholarship fund, which has awarded more than $55,000 to local students in the past 16 years. Tickets for the annual steak fry fund-raiser are $19 per person. For more information or to RSVP, contact Phil Mobilia, president of the Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, at 814-725-1999 (home) or 716-483-7219 (office), or via e-mail at Phil.Mobilia@psualum.com. Please respond by July 30. Visit www.behrend.psu.edu/alumni for more information about the Lake Erie Chapter or to become a member.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania 25th Anniversary Celebration will be held Saturday, August 4 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Tickets are $35. RSVP by July 27.

The Knights of Columbus Council 4262 will be holding a pancake breakfast to benefit the family of a North East house fire. The breakfast will be at St Gregory School Gym Sunday August 5 from 8-11 am. Cost is $7 adults, $3.50 children.

Capture the magic of summer with PotterPalooza, a fun filled summer camp for young wizards in training. Five days of classes and activities include Astronomy, Potions, Transfiguration, Magical Crafts and More. August 6-10 at the Erie County Historical Society Watson-Curtze Mansion, ages 5-13. Call (814) 454-1813 Ext 24 for additional information.

Representatives of the waterfowl organizations, individual sportsmen and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, Aug 10, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Northwest Pennsylvania Duck Hunters Association, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2007-08 hunting seasons. The briefing will begin at 1 pm, in Room 112 of the Tom Ridge Education Center at Presque Isle State Park in Erie.

The Erie Chamber Orchestra, in residency at Gannon University and under the direction of Bruce Morton Wright, will perform its 24th annual summer concerts entitled “Music in the Air” on the campus of Villa Maria Academy, 2403 West 8th Street Erie, PA. On Friday, August 10 they will perform a Classical Music Night and on Saturday, August 11 they will perform a Pop Music Night. Both concerts will be performed at 8 pm. The concerts are FREE of charge, with seating and are on a first come, first served basis. There will have a number of chairs at the site, but you are encouraged to bring your own chairs or blankets. In the case of rain, these concerts will be performed in the auditorium of Villa Maria Academy.

Titled “Local Government and the Erie Economy,” the 2007 Economic Research Institute of Erie (ERIE) conference will address topics relevant to Erie and its surrounding communities, including the debate about consolidating the area’s local governments and the smoking ban. The institute’s sixth annual conference will be held on August 14, in McGarvey Commons, located in the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The cost to attend this year’s conference is $149 and includes printed materials, breakfast and lunch. A reduced rate of $75 is available for nonprofit, government and economic development officials. For more information or to register for the conference, call (814) 898-7149.