The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed a smoking ban. Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell said he would sign it. Hotels must have 75 percent of their rooms non-smoking. Casinos such as Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie must have 50 percent of their facility non-smoking. Exempted are bars with less than 20 percent food sales, private clubs, cigar bars and tobacco shops.
In 2006, Erie County Council passed a smoking ban even though County Solicitor Thomas Talarico advised the Erie County Council that it was illegal. It was thrown out by the courts and cost Erie County taxpayers thousands in legal fees. Since then many restaurants and businesses have gone smoke free, not because politicians told them to do so but because it was good business.

The trial for former Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce will be held in Allegheny County. The defense requested the move from Erie because of pretrial publicity. Joyce faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering. Joyce received $440,000 from a 2001 car accident. He received $50,000 from State Farm Insurance and $390,000 from Erie Insurance. Joyce claimed severe injuries from the accident but they have him playing golf, in-line skating, scuba diving, riding a Harley, and getting a pilots license.

Erie Mayor Joe Sinnot and City of Erie School District Superintendent Jim Barker went to Harrisburg to support a school funding formula law. Unfortunately, both men will return to Erie. The proposed change would give more funding to urban districts like Erie.

Yesterday, I mentioned the problem that the Times News / GoErie had with their Help Wanted links. They fixed the problem. Sort of. They just took out the entire section with the bad links instead of correcting them.
Employers are more than welcome to post their jobs for FREE on the ErieBlogs.com Job Board.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Health Career Camp 2008 is now accepting applications. The camp will be held June 16-20 at Gannon University. The camp, for students in grades 9-11, is FREE. The camp will allow the students to work alongside area health professionals. Participating students will hail from Butler, Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, and Mercer counties. The camp is a collaborative effort between the Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NW PA AHEC) and Gannon University. Hamot Medical Center and Saint Vincent Health Center also are making it possible. During the camp, students will be able to learn, from practicing health professionals in the region, about the specific health professions that have the greatest demand for qualified workers. Gannon faculty members will discus with the students the importance of cultural sensitivity in health care and some of the situations health care personnel will encounter. Students also will learn about diversity and the need to eliminate disparities in health care. To enhance their learning, students will be exposed to 12 different health and science careers over the course of the week. They also will be given a job shadowing experience at either Hamot or Saint Vincent. In addition, Gannon University’s admissions staff will teach students and parents how to prepare and apply for college or other advanced education. The week will culminate in a “Grand Rounds” presentation of case studies done by the students during the week. All speakers, from Gannon and the surrounding health care agencies, are generously donating their time and talents to the camp. “We want to reach students early, to provide them with career choices before their minds are set. The career camp will allow them a wide variety of experience that will be fun and informational,” according to Jane A Mullinax, MEd, and Camp Director. “Our goal is to create a health professions pipeline that will help the region in its efforts to eliminate disparities in health care.

Gannon University has continued its recent trend of yearly upgrades to the Hammermill Center, the home arena for the school’s basketball, volleyball, and wrestling programs. (Click here for large size image.) Workers recently concluded installing new plush seats in the Hammermill Center, which will feature wider and more comfortable seating arrangements. In addition, workers have completed their annual refinishing job on the Hammermill Center floor. Gannon officials have also completed installing equipment at the Hammermill Center to broadcast video of all home basketball games via the Internet and B2 Networks. Broadcasts will be aired through the school’s Web site at as well as B2TV.com. Fans wanting to watch Golden Knights athletics via B2 Networks will need a high-speed Internet connection and a current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. Games will be sold on an individual basis for $7 and season packages will also be available. The recent improvements come one year after Gannon completely refurbished the floor and hung new championship banners. The floor was repainted with new logos and color schemes during the summer of 2007. Gannon officials also plan to hang new banners for each Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) school at the Hammermill Center prior to the Golden Knights’ inaugural season as a PSAC member in 2008-09.

AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Erie Insurance Group (Erie) and its property/casualty affiliates. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the ICR of “a+” of Erie Indemnity Company (Erie Indemnity) (NASDAQ: ERIE), Erie’s publicly-traded management company. Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and ICR of “a” of Erie’s life affiliate, Erie Family Life Insurance Company (Erie Family Life). All companies are domiciled in Erie, PA. The outlook for all ratings is stable.

For the week of June 2-8, Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $40,327,194 with payouts of $36,659,245.

Jeff Eastman, PhD, of Windward Solutions made a trip from California to Erie for business. Eastman stayed at the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel. He blogged a review of the hotel – “It has lovely rooms that are well-appointed and comfortable. It is a most agreeable destination at 12pm on a stormy northeast night on Lake Erie and it has a nice little restaurant. This evening I had dinner there and had one the nicer presentations of a salmon Caesar salad that I have ever experienced. In Erie, Pennsylvania, go figure. I will be back to the hotel and to the restaurant for another meal.”

Millcreek Community Hospital will hold a ceremony for 26 residents and interns who completed their post-doctoral training at the hospital. The graduates will receive diplomas following a luncheon today, Wednesday, June 11 at the Winter Garden Atrium at the Courtyard by Marriott Ambassador Banquet Center. Eight interns will be graduating from traditional rotating internships: Richard C Chu, DO; Robert Alan Cravenor, DO; Nicholas Ronald Loafman, DO; Matthew Robert Meyer, DO; Michael Allen Packard, DO; Craig J Rush, DO; Jared J Stefanko, DO; and Mark Strazisar, DO. Interns Ranko Barac, DO, and Anthony Michael Letizio II, DO, are graduating from internal medicine track internships. Gary L Peterson Jr, DO, and Michael Brian Zaycosky, DO, will graduate from the family practice emphasis internship, while Shaunda M Rodriguez, DO, will graduate from the otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery track internship. Three residents will graduate from the internal medicine residency program at the hospital: Garrett Preston Clark, DO; Danielle Marie Hansen, DO; and Robert F Nash, DO Matthew Laurence Behan, DO, and Antonio S Simora, DO, will graduate from the psychiatry residency program, while Benjamin Beckham Garner, DO, and William C LaCost, DO, will complete the orthopedic surgery residency program. Thomas Stephen Sellner, DO, will complete the ologalyngology/facial plastic surgery residency, David Lewis Hykes Jr, DO, will graduate from the hospital’s gastroenterology fellowship, and both Erich Gerald Eriksen, DPM, and Richard W. Sieber, DPM, will graduate from the podiatric medicine and surgery – 36 residency. Two residents will graduate from the pharmacy practice residency: Jessica Jolls, PharmD, and Lindsay Langworthy, PharmD.

The Erie SeaWolves fell in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Jerry Uht Park, 5-1, at the hands of the Portland Sea Dogs. Danny Christensen paced the SeaWolves with eight strong innings, tossing his best outing of the season, but took a no-decision. The SeaWolves and Sea Dogs meet on Wednesday night for the middle game of a three-game series at Jerry Uht Park…7:05 First Pitch. Lefty Luke French (3-6, 4.54 ERA) takes the mound for the ‘Wolves against RHP Matt Goodson (3-3, 2.12 ERA).
Notes: Jon Connolly, released on Friday, signed to play for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League. Connolly went 0-5 (6.50) with the SeaWolves. He started eight games, allowing 63 hits and 40 runs (33 earned) in 45 2/3 innings. He struck out 16 and walked 15…..The SeaWolves got a break when Dontrelle Willis was sent to Class A Lakeland.

The Erie Farmers Market will be held 9 am to 3 pm each Wednesday in Perry Square in downtown Erie. Vendor permits at $100 for each day are still available by calling the city at (814) 870-1200.

The Erie Art Museum has the answer to the mid-week work week blahs – take a Mid-Day Art Break at the Erie Art Museum each Wednesday now through Wednesday, Aug 27. On Wednesdays, visitors to the Erie Art Museum are extended FREE admission, guided gallery tours and live music on the Erie Art Museum’s steps; the Museum’s staff will offer guided tours of the galleries at 12 and 12:30 or visitors can enjoy the galleries on their own. Visitors can pick-up a quick lunch and shop at the Erie Farmers’ Market in nearby Perry before or after their stop at the Museum. Galleries are open for FREE to the public every Wednesday 11 am to 5 pm. Mid-Day Art Break is supported by Classy 100, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hamot and Erie Insurance Group.

The 2008 Sprint Sunset Music Series kicks off its season with the Duke Sherman Blues Band performing. The FREE concert takes place at Presque Isle State Park Beach 1 at 6:30 pm. Admission to the park and this event are free, as always.

Penn State Behrend is hosting its second international conference on injection molding, “Injection Molding: Innovation and Emerging Technologies,” through June 12. The three-day conference will feature 24 technical presentations, offered concurrently in the mornings, and hands-on tutorials in the afternoons. Two keynote speakers will address attendees on Wednesday and Thursday – Rob Neilley, editor-in-chief of Injection Molding Magazine, and William Carteaux, president and CEO of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc, respectively.

Reducing the costs of your compressed air system and an overview of energy tax incentives are two topics the Energy Roundtable will tackle during their next quarterly meeting. The Energy Roundtable was formed in 2007 to help business, industry and other large energy users (such as schools and healthcare facilities) in northwest Pennsylvania reduce energy costs through improved energy management, energy efficiency and cutting edge technology. The group was initiated through a collaborative effort of the Manufacturers’ Association, the NW PA Industrial Resource Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, Penelec and the NW Rural Electric Cooperative. The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at 301 Peninsula Drive in Erie. Registration is at 8:45 am, with the program running from 9 am to noon. The agenda for the meeting includes: Reducing the Costs of Your Compressed Air System and Energy Tax Incentives. “Energy issues continue to be on the front burner for most of our members,” said Manufacturers’ Association Director of Government Affairs Sheila Sterrett. “This roundtable has provided a forum for large energy users to gather and share information and participation has increased with each subsequent meeting.” To register, call (814) 456-6299, fax (814) 459-6058 or e-mail jmiller@nwirc.org. There is no charge for the event.

The 20th Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Event will be held June 12-15 at the Robertson Athletic Complex on the campus of Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.

The first Erie Downtown Partnership Block Party of 2008 will be held Thursday June 12 on the 1300 block of State Street in front of Calamari’s Squid Row. The event is FREE. Food and beverages will be available for sale. One World Tribe will provide the music.

The 84th annual Lake City Fire Company Carnival will be held June 12-14 in Lake City, PA.

Gallery Night, which is organized by the Erie Art Museum, features FREE public touring of 12 local galleries and gallery activities, on Friday June 13 from 7 to 10 pm. Galleries that will be participating are Accents By The Bay, Allen Stoneware Gallery, Artworks Gallery and Clayspace Studio, Bayfront Gallery, Geary’s Studio 7, Glass Growers Gallery, Kada Gallery, Kuhn’s Framing and Gift Gallery, Ralph Miller Jewelers and Gallery, Relish Inc. Studio and Gallery, Urraro Gallery and the galleries at the Erie Art Museum. EMTA’s Bayliner will be providing FREE shuttle transportation from 7 to 10:30 pm. Trolley maps and schedules are available at each gallery or by calling the Erie Art Museum at (814) 459-5477. Participating galleries will be offering visitors a chance to win a $50 gift certificate as an incentive to attract patrons into touring their galleries.

Starting on June 13 Theatre 145, located at 145 West 11th St in Erie, is going to rock like it never rocked before when “Remembering Janis” premieres. “Remembering Janis” honors one of the 1960′s greatest singers, Janis Joplin, through the memories of one of the Haight-Ashbury hippies who knew Janis from the time she arrived in San Francisco until her death in 1970. His memories bring the spirit of Janis back to sing her most popular songs. “Remembering Janis” will run on June 13, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28. There will be no “Remembering Janis” show on Saturday June 14th. Ticket prices are $10 Regular seating, $12 Riser seating and VIP seating at $15. For advanced tickets please visit www.thetheatre145.com or call (814) 879-0733.

The Erie County Historical Society will hold a Corvette Cruise-In on Saturday June 14, 10 am – 4 pm, at the Erie Planetarium, 356 West 6th Street in Erie. Learn the connection between Apollo astronauts and the Corvette.

The Erie BayHawks will host a Fanfest, Saturday, June 14, from 2 to 7 pm at the Tullio Arena. Admission is free. The event will feature a visit by Cavaliers Mascot Moondog between 3 – 4 pm and inter-active games including the Inflatable Dunker, the 360 Shoot-a-Round and the Game Face photo stands from the Cavs Fan Experience. Fans will have the first opportunity to meet Coach John Treloar, participate in an on-court shoot around, and register to win a rare, autographed Lebron James official NBA basketball.

The 2008 Brianlee Crosby Memorial Learn to Swim Program, sponsored by the City of Erie Summer Recreation Program and operated by the American Red Cross, Greater Erie County Chapter, will be held June 16 to August 8. Qualifications: All boys and girls enrolled in the first through sixth grades may participate in the program. PROOF of grade level must be presented at the time of registration. The program is FREE to City of Erie School District students. A parent or legal guardian must accompany each child to complete the registration form at the appropriate pool on the first day of each two week instructional period. Parents or guardians are also responsible for their child’s attendance and transportation needs. Appropriate swimming attire and cleanliness will be required at all pools in operation. Pre-registration: Pre-registration will begin at 10 am on the morning of the first day of each session (June 16, June 30, July 14, July 28) at the Strong Vincent High School pool and the Central Tech High School pool. Children should come prepared to take their water skills tests in order to determine the appropriate level of instruction for them. Certification: All boys and girls enrolled will receive progress reports and an appropriate Red Cross certificate for satisfactory completion of their course. Observation days will be held on the last day of each session for all parents who wish to see the progress that their children have made in the course. Session Dates (Monday – Friday): Session I June 16 – June 27, Session II June 30 – July 11 (Closed July 4th), Session III July 14 – July 25, Session IV July 28 – Aug 8. Sessions begin at: 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, Open Swim (For students enrolled in lessons; NOT open to public) from 2:30-3:30 pm. Open Swim: Open swim will be available at the Roger Young Pool Monday through Saturday from 12-5 pm. (June 16 – August 8) (Closed July 4th). For more information on training courses offered by your American Red Cross, call the Greater Erie County Chapter at 833-0942 ext 243.

The Erie Yacht Club’s Reyburn Sailing School youth and adult classes begins June 16. Their curriculum focuses on individual skill levels ranging from Beginner to Advanced Racing Sailors and carefully follows USSAILING guidelines. Their fleet consists of the Club Junior, the 420, and the Optimist Pram. All are tried and proven as exceptionally safe and easy-to-sail boats for novice and accomplished sailors.

The parishioners of the Church of the Nativity, with the blessing of Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, invite all Orthodox Christians and their families to attend Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century, the 2008 Orthodox Conference. This family conference will be held from June 17-22 in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is the second conference hosted by the Russian Orthodox Old Rite parish. Divine Services will be conducted at the Church of the Nativity and conference sessions will take place on the beautiful campus of Mercyhurst College, located three miles south of the church. This conference is intended for all members of Orthodox families and also for all single individuals who may not have a family to accompany them. There will be daily lectures, workshops, and divine services along with meals and social events during the week. There will also be a full youth program for all youth from 4 years of age and above and a baby sitting service for infants of parents who wish to attend the conference.

It is no secret that Marketing and IT professionals come from very different backgrounds and work in very different ways. However, in today’s fast paced world of digital marketing and increasingly important online customer experiences, it is imperative that these two groups come together. They need to collaborate in order to rise above the competition and reach the maximum potential of the organization’s online presence. The eMarketing Special Interest Group and the eMarketing Learning Center are offering Aligning Marketing and IT for Online Success on Wednesday, June 18 at Knowledge Park in Erie. Register Now.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) will hold a Summer On Campus Day, 1 pm – 4:30 pm on Friday, June 20 to provide opportunities for prospective students to tour the campus facilities and learn about the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy Program and the Health Sciences Post Baccalaureate Program. Please confirm your attendance for the event with Maggie Crosswhite or Camille Jennings.

Gannon University Writers’ Workshops 2008 are for students Grades 4-12. Develop your writing process and produce a book of your writing under the direction of Dr Sally LeVan and the teachers of the NWPA Writing Project. Each session will be limited to 25 students per session. Dates are June 23-27, July 7-11 and July 21-25. Workshops will be held 9 am to 12 pm in Room 3200 of the Palumbo Center, 8th and Peach Streets. Registration includes T-shirt, snacks and book. $125 per one-week session/$200 for two-weeks. For information contact Dr Sally LeVan, (814) 871-7506. Registration.

The Saint Vincent Auxiliary presents “A Night at the Races” on Wednesday, June 25 at Presque Isle Downs Clubhouse and Lounge. The event is from 4:30 pm – 9 pm. Each attendee will receive $10 in gaming tokens, a four-course meal in the Clubhouse, and a chance to gamble the night away while learning more about the Children’s Miracle Network. For questions and/or RSVP, please contact Stephanie Flanagan at (814) 452-5302.

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts will be held June 27-29 at Liberty Park.

The Erie County Historical Society will hold a weekly Ghosts and Legends Tour at 8 pm on Fridays, June 27-September 26. Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie through a 1.5 hour walking tour. Reservations required, call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.

Erie’s gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community will come together the weekend of June 28-29 to celebrate Pride 2008 with a picnic, march/rally, and social opportunities. Festivities get underway Saturday, June 28, with the Pride Erie Picnic at Rotary Pavilion, Beach 7 at Presque Isle State Park. The Pride Picnic runs from 1-6 pm with food being served from 2-4 pm. The Pride March will step off from The Zone Dance Club at 1 pm. Sunday, June 29, with the Pride Rally beginning in Perry Square at 2 pm. Information about the Erie area Pride March/Rally is available at www.ErieGayPride.org, by email at eriegaypride@gmail.com, or by calling 866-229-1974 (toll free).

The Erie Philharmonic’s Get Your Phil At Noon Summer Music Series FREE concerts will be held July 8 and August 12 at noon in front of the Warner Theatre on State Street. The free lunch-hour ensemble concerts, designed to provide “music while you munch,” will feature a Philharmonic string quartet fully amplified and seating for the outdoor event. WQLN radio will broadcast live from the event this year.

There will be a Rust Belt Bloggers Summit on July 11-12 in Erie. People from Youngstown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other area cities will be attendance to discuss economic development issues in the region.

The Manufacturers’ Association and Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally will be held July 17-20, 2008. While downtown Erie serves as the hub of the rally, related events take place throughout the city and region. Most notably, two outdoor concerts featuring major artists will be held Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, at Liberty Park along Presque Isle Bay.

The 2008 City of Erie Junior Golf Program is open to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 17. Entry fee is $7 per person. The number of entrants will determine the number of divisions. Registration will take place at J C Martin Golf Course from June 1 through July 19. Please call J C Martin Golf Course at 864-1821 with any questions. Tournament 1 is at J C Martin Golf Course, West 38th St and Shunpike Rd (next to Erie Zoo), on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 am. Tournament 2 will be held at Downing Golf Course, 1351 Troupe Rd, 899-5827, on Wednesday, July 30 at 8:30 am. Tournament 2 will be immediately followed by a picnic and an awards presentation.

The Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm 2008 Native American Festival is July 26-27 at the farm in Edinboro. Hours are 11-6 daily. Admission is $3 per person, 3 and under are FREE.

The Gannon University ShakeXperience Theater Camp will be held Monday, July 28 through Saturday, August 2. This one-week resident high school (through graduation) theater camp is taught by members of Gannon’s theater program and qualified professionals. Classes are conducted in Shakespeare, text analysis, stage movement, rehearsal and performance. Workshops are offered in stage combat, period dance, and music. Includes a public matinee performance of CYMBELINE as part of the Shakespeare SummerNights outdoor threatre festival. Cost: $99 (includes room, board, and instruction fee). For more information, contact Fr Shawn Clerkin, (814) 871-7493.

The 2008 City of Erie Recreation Tennis Tournaments will be held once again at
Frontier Park. Junior: June 24-27, Adult: August 13-17. Applications are available at: PennBriar Health and Tennis Club, Westwood Racquet Club, Lake Shore Country Club, Kahkwa Club and Erie Sport Store’s downtown location. For more information contact Richard Beck at 835-5452.