Erie City Council held their biweekly meeting last evening. They might have well just stayed home because they got nothing accomplished. They are expected to make decisions. They can’t grasp the concept. Organized activity to accomplish an objective: Action. Learn it. Live it. They afraid about making decisions? Cripe, they re-elected anyway.
Item 1: The Erie – Western Pennsylvania Port Authority wanted permission to sell Ravine Park. It would have placed the property back on the tax rolls. Most of the ‘park’ is actually mostly the backyards of the area property owners. If you went there and tried to use the ‘park’ someone would yell at you for trespassing on their property. The residents that use the ‘park’ just don’t want to pay taxes and land they are already using. A couple of blue-haired old ladies complained about the change. Council folded and tabled the measure.
Item 2: Nothing was done on the proposed amnesty program for properties that were converted to multiple units that aren’t permitted under current zoning regulations. They were supposed to vote on it last evening. Some landlords are up in the air wondering if they can rent out some apartments. Some of these properties are for sale and until something is done one way or the other, the owners are screwed.
Item 3: The current LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance) expires in just 5 days. The had an agreement with the Erie School Board on a new LETRA plan but tossed the whole thing out the window and have to start from scratch. Zero new construction will take place until a new plan is put in place.
The next council meeting is Nov 21. They HAVE to deal with these issues. And btw, Council has done zero work on the 2008 budget which MUST be in place by January 1.
A train derailed on the CSX tracks around 5th and Wayne Streets near Frontier Lumber. Late add: Jeff blogged about the incident and has pics.
Lawyers don’t do much but scribble their names on papers and act important. Paralegals do all the work and one of the best around is “The Alex.” Happy birthday young lady.
I had to travel from Erie on Route 8 to Wattsburg. There must have been two dozen crews working on restoring power and trees, poles and line were down everywhere. There must have been over a foot of snow on th ground between I-90 and Wattsburg.
Former President Bill Clinton announced a partnership between the signatories of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), and named Allegheny College as one of 11 ACUPCC signatories that will launch pilot projects to further green their campuses. Allegheny College President Richard J Cook was invited to participate with Former President Clinton in making the live announcement during the keynote address at the U S Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo Wednesday.
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation announced that Kelly Sult of Erie PA and her horse ‘Hollywood’ were presented with the Markham Trophy for the best-placed Young Rider at the Fair Hill International CCI***. This was Sult’s first three star event.
Pa State Representative John Hornaman will be hosting a veterans reception on Fri Nov 9 from 2-5 pm at the American Legion Millcreek Post 773, 4109 W 12th St. He is also the secretary for the committee on veterans affairs and emergency preparedness. He is one of the few members on the committee that have actually served in the military.
Erie SeaWolves manager Matt Walbeck resigned to accept a job as the third-base coach and catching instructor for the Texas Rangers. Walbeck has been managing for four years and reached the postseason in all four years he managed in the Tigers system, the first three at Class A West Michigan (2004-2006) and then at Double-A Erie this past season.
The Penn-Trafford girls soccer team beat McDowell 2-1 in a PIAA Class AAA first-round soccer game played at Erie’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Steel Valley boys soccer team scored with 21 seconds remaining to edge Erie Mercyhurst Prep 3-2 in the first round of the PIAA Class AA soccer playoffs.
The Behrend men’s soccer team (14-4-3) beat Washington and Jefferson 1-0 in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. Behrend’s sophomore Jerry Tortella (Pittsburgh/Thomas Jefferson) scored at the 68:56 mark off a pass from Mike Seth (Pittsburgh/Baldwin) to propel the Behrend Lions to the win. Behrend moves on to face Montclair State on the road this Saturday, November 10 in New Jersey. Montclair earned a first-round bye after posting a 17-2-1 mark.
After leading Edinboro to its best season in school history at 13-5-3, head coach Gary Kagiavas has been named the PSAC West Coach of the Year. This marks the third time he has received the honor. In addition, five Fighting Scots earned All-PSAC West honors. Angie de Almeida, Mary Grebenc, Ashley Pulman, and Ashley Jones were accorded first team honors, and Kara Ciacchini was a second team selection.
The Gannon University Football team is ranked 137th of 144 Division II teams in total offense and 144th of 144 teams in total defense. Gannon faces 21st ranked Ashland on Saturday.
Penn State Behrend will be offering softball pitching and hitting clinics in November and December for girls ages 6-18 years. Cost is $50 per clinician for four sessions of pitching or hitting. All clinics are held in the Junker Center at Penn State Behrend. For more information, please contact Stacy Pondo, the Softball Coach, at (814) 898-6240.
Elyria (Ohio) Catcher Jen Bower signed a letter of intent to continue her softball and academic career at Division II Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa.
The Erie Playhouse production of Frankenstein runs through Nov 11.
The next SAM and ED meeting will take place on Thursday, Nov 8, 5:30 – 7:30 at the Plymouth Tavern. Renee Lamis of PA Futures will speak about her organization plus there will be a discussion of the future of SAM and ED. Free and open to the public. Food and drink are available for purchase.
Please join Young Erie Professionals (yep) at 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 8 for their November Happy Hour at Gino’s Chophouse and Seafood Restaurant, West 21st and Peach Streets. Meet new friends and reconnect with old at one of Erie’s hottest new restaurants. Alan Kugler of PA Futures (no web site) will discuss the SAM and ED group (Science, Art, Manufacturing and Engineering, and Design) and how your participation could affect the future of the Erie region. Also, this year’s yep! gift wrapping event will benefit Community Shelter Services. Kitty Cancilla, the executive director of CSS, will talk about how the agency provides emergency shelter and housing to Erie’s homeless. Sign up for a gift at our November Happy Hour to benefit Erie’s homeless. All happy hours are cash bar only. Hors d’oevres will be served.
The Erie Area Film Makers present the First “Films For Food”
Drive to benefit The Second Harvest Food Bank of Erie, Pa. The event, being held November 9-10 at the Historical Roadhouse Theater in Erie, PA, features 24 Continuous Hours of films produced by Erie Area Film Makers. Admission to the Theater is simply a Donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank in the form of cash or a non-perishable food item. Films to be featured include “Fist Of The Vampire” by Len Kabasinksi, “Chasing Darkness” by Jason Hull, “Virgin Pockets” by Paul Gorman as well as the World Premiere of “Aspiring Psychopath” by Ryan Cavalline plus films by local favorites Dustin Austin, Monster Mark, Matt Detisch, Lisa Seelinger and many more. Many of the Film Makers will be on hand with members of their cast and crew to accept donations at the Theater. Todd Humes (“Chasing Darkness”), Marie Madison (“Virgin Pockets”) and Shannon Solo (“Wolf At The Door”) will be among the many local Actors and Actresses on hand to accept donations. This event is designed to put focus on the local issues of poverty, homelessness and hunger during the Thanksgiving Holiday when far too many families in our community go without enough food. And absolutely no one will be turned away. The event’s organizer and local Film Maker Paul Gorman explains. “Poverty is one of the issues we’re dealing with locally. If there’s anyone in the community who couldn’t afford to attend a local film during the year, now is a great opportunity to do so. Even with the relatively low cost of ticket prices here in town, many families are still unable to afford tickets to our shows. This is one of the ways the film makers here are offering a remedy. Anyone with a donation of any kind will be let into the screenings. And if someone comes down who just can’t afford a donation, well, they’ll be let in too. Keep in mind that films like Len Kabasinki’s “Swamp Zombies” and Jason Hull’s “Chasing Darkness” sold out during their initial releases here in Erie so here’s another opportunity to see these great films and make a much needed contribution to our community.” The first screening begins at 7:30 pm on Friday November 9th and will continue through 8 pm Saturday night when our last film is screened. After, The Great Lakes Film Association is hosting a Wine and Cheese Reception for the Erie Area Film Makers that’s open to the public, so anyone interested can come meet the Film Makers and learn a bit more about the growing, vibrant film community in Erie, PA. For a complete schedule of films, please visit Films For Food at www.myspace.com/filmsforfood. For more information on the event, or to make a contribution, you may contact Paul Gorman at gmdfilms@verizon.net or by phone at (814) 572-1461. This event is made possible by generous contributions from The Roadhouse Theater, Hagen Business Machines, The Great Lakes Film Association as well as the Film Makers, Casts, Crews and Technicians in the Erie Area Film Community.
The associate degree in nursing program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will hold an admissions information session for prospective students on Monday, Nov 12. The event begins at 6 pm in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. It is free and open to both traditional and adult students.
The Hot Club of San Francisco, an ensemble of accomplished and versatile musicians celebrating the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s pioneering Hot Club of France, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, November 15. Hot Club of San Francisco is brought to Erie by Music at Noon: The Logan Series. The lunchtime performance is FREE and open to the public, and takes place at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be shown at the Roadhouse Theatre, 145 West 11th St, on Thursday Nov 15 at 8 pm. Proceeds benefit the Great Lake Film Association.
Do you want to know how to expand your sales to the European markets? Learn about product regulatory aspects for goods entering the EU. Understand the importance of Exhibitions in the EU and how trade shows weigh into the overall concept of doing business in the EU. The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission is holding a workshop in Mercer on Nov 15. Cost is $35. To register please contact Lori Moore, or phone (814) 677-4800 Ext 104.
Gem City Concert Band will offer a concert on Thursday, November 15 at the Blasco Library’s H O Hirt Auditorium. The hour-and-half-long program will begin at 7:30 pm. The concert is free and open to the public, although a free-will offering will be accepted to benefit Gem City Bands. The 40-member band, under the direction of Betty McKinney and Assistant Director Brett Woomer, will perform such pieces as Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts’ Colonel Bogey March from the 1957 film Bridge on the River Kwai; Warren Barker’s Themes Like Old Times, a medley including Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Peg O’ My Heart, I Want a Girl, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and 12th Street Rag; and Ralph Vaughan William’s English Folk Song Suite. To kickstart the Christmas spirit, several Christmas selections will also be included, including Leroy Anderson’s 1948 favorite, Sleigh Ride. The concert is part of the 07-08 Blasco Library Concert Series and is sponsored by the Erie County Public Library and the Friends of the Library. For more information, visit the Gem City Bands Web site or phone 899-8467.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Student Scholarship Auction Committee has announced that the College will hold the 14th Annual Student Scholarship Fund Auction at the new Erie Bayfront Convention Center on Friday Nov 16 with the purpose of providing scholarships to their students. The program opens at 6 pm with a silent auction, followed by dinner at 7 pm and a live auction at 8 pm. For reservations contact the LECOM Communications Office (814) 866-8125 or (814) 860-5125. You may also send a request for ticket information by Email: communications@lecom.edu. RSVP by November 2.
Presque Isle Downs and Casino is giving away $5000 with their Harvest Cash Giveaway on Nov 17 from 10 am to 2 pm. Eight winners will received $500 and one winner will receive $1000.
The Erie Central High School Class of 1997 Reunion is holding their 10 year reunion on Saturday, November 24 at the Cornerstone Bar and Grill, 809 East 38th St.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy has scheduled an On Campus Day on November 29, 3-5 pm, to provide opportunities for prospective students to tour the campus facilities and learn about the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. It includes a tour of the facility, a Pharmacy Compounding and Dispensing demonstration, an opportunity to meet with current students and faculty, an overview of the LECOM Doctor of Pharmacy programs and information on the admissions process and financial aid.
