As reported here yesterday on ErieBlogs, General Electric Transportation landed a huge 99 million dollar contract with Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram which provides public transportation for the City of Rotterdam, Netherlands. GE Transportation’s Global Signaling business, headquartered in Paris, France, will be modernizing Rotterdams signaling and communications system. Work is expected to begin spring 2009.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed into law the Clean Indoor Air Act (SB 246) this past Friday, June 13, making Pennsylvania 1 of 24 states to have some variation of a public smoking ban law. (See last week’s ErieBlogs post discussing the Act including the actual text of the law.) The Act becomes effective 90 days from signing which means September 11, 2008, is the first day businesses will need to keep their establishments smoke free if they are not exempted from the Act. What can businesses do to prepare? The PA Department of Health will be the leading government agency enforcing the Act and will be providing information on compliance:

The Department has partnered with the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco to prepare and distribute toolkits for business owners to help them comply with the terms of the new legislation. The technical resources include signage, table top tents, assistance with informing staff and patrons of the new non smoking policy, as well as smoking cessation resources.

Although no useful information or guides on compliance have been posted, the Department of Health and Pennsylvania Alliance websites should have information soon. For a brief but good understanding of the Act, BLR.com has some useful analysis on the smoking ban.

Congrats to the Boston Celtics who won the NBA championship last night in a blowout. Speaking of NBA champions, Michael Jordan has been in the local news lately. It seems Lisa Miceli of Crawford County believes that Jordan is the father of her child. She has been pursuing him for several years to no avail. Jordan has completed 2 paternity tests that proves he is not the father, but Miceli has not stopped legal action and contacting him or his representatives, which Jordan’s camp has noted violates a court order. You can read more of this bizarre story here.

LECOM has announced plans to spend $4 million to upgrade and equip two buildings at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. LECOM at Seton Hill will open in the fall of 2009. LECOM also has campuses in Florida and is headquarted in Erie.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has this story about local conservationists and Erie Bluffs. Read it here.

Allegheny College has announced that Siemens Building Technologies has been selected to provide the college with a investment-grade energy audit. Allegheny is one of several American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatories to launch pilot projects through the Clinton Climate Initiative’s (CCI) Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program. Allegheny’s goal is to replace aging elements of its infrastructure in order to achieve better energy efficiency as well as emissions reduction across all facilities at the college, which is the 32nd oldest college in the nation.

Erin Howard, of Corry, will face criminal charges following a car crash that killed her six-year-old son, Samuel. Howard’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit at the time of the crash. As a parent, this breaks my heart.

John Guerriero is reporting at GoErie.com that PENNDot will soon begin roadwork on Route 20 at the Interstate 79 interchange. Weather permitting, the construction should take 6 weeks and costs $5 million.

Shadow Facs farm will be hosting a horse grooming cliinc on Sunday, June 22. Participants will learn how to: Watch how to brush off before a ride, know what is in a complete grooming kit, discover the complete system, study basic parts of the horse, find out what is normal or abnormal and pick out of a grab bag of groom tools! The cost is $20.00 per person Contact Debb 814.392.5055 for more info.

If you haven’t checked out the Big Picture blog being created by the Boston Globe, you should. It has some of the most amazing photography I’ve ever seen.

Erie native Cory Chevalier is now serving in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Key West and has obtained the rank of Petty Officer-3rd Class. Thank you for your service.

Tonight is game 2 of the 3 game series against the Binghamton Mets, in which the Seawolves lost 10 to 1 last night. The Seawolves have a season average of .435 (only slightly worse than the Detroit Tigers of whom they are minor league affiliate) and are 11 1/2 games behind first place Bowie Baysox in the Eastern League.

Allegheny College has named Kelly Swiney as its new baseball coach. Previous coach Mike Ferriss stepped down this spring.

Gannon University has announced the hiring of Wendell Davis will serve as the football team’s wide receivers coach. He previously coached with NFL Europe.

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.

Local arts and culture blog venangago-go.com is cosponsoring, with Seneca area coffeehouse Brother Bean, a free concert featuring Maryland recording artists Jon Felton and the Soulmobile on Monday June 23rd, 2008 to celebrate the third anniversary of the blog. IsidoreRecords.com calls Jon Felton and the Snowmobile’s unique fusion of folk, bluegrass, rock, gospel, and catchy storytelling “…very heartfelt and strikingly real…Think early Pedro the Lion meets later Danielson Famile, with the raw intensity of early Violet Femmes and charming quirkiness…” Samples of their music can be found at www.myspace.com/soulmobile Venangago-go.com provides free area entertainment listings, interviews and reviews of local artists, regional, national and international art and culture news, a free bibliography of Venango county authors, and free and legal music downloads. The all-ages free concert runs from 7-9 pm at Brother Bean (2803 SR 257, Seneca, PA 16346). For more information, email Michael Dittman at Michael.dittman@gmail.com or call Brother Bean at 814-677-0232 Brother Bean’s Concert Series is made possible in part through the Samuel and Edith C. Justus Charitable trust, the Elizabeth S. Black Charitable Trust, and the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), a local decision-making program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), a state agency. PPA is administered in this region by the Venango County Center for Creative Development.

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 Erie Downtown Block Party on Thursday, June 19 will be held on State Street between 10th and 11th Streets. Sponsors are Nicky’s Pub, Papa George’s, Docksiders, Old School Al’s, Mrs Sub and Russo’s Barber Shop. Music by Spooner (progressive, funk, rock) and Next of Kin (country).

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.

The first Buggin’ State of the season will be held on Friday June 20. Buggin State is a cruise-in that give car owners and car clubs in the Erie PA area a chance to showcase their classic, custom and tricked-out vehicles. Thousands of enthusiasts come downtown to see the cars on display along State Street. FREE, live music with the Four Jays at Perry Square.

“Remembering Janis” will run June 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 at Theatre 145, located at 145 West 11th St in Erie. Ticket prices are $10 Regular seating, $12 Riser seating and VIP seating at $15. For advanced tickets please visit their web site or call (814) 879-0733.

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 Goodell Gardens and Homestead Summer Solstice Celebration takes place 2-5 pm on Sunday June 22. Featuring labyrinth walks (2-4 pm), Make-and-Take Container Gardening with Jean Chapman of Scotland Yard Nursery (3:30-5:00). Plants provided; please bring your own pot up to 18″. Refreshments by Nicks Place (2:30-4:30). $5 – Nonmember, $2 – Members. Please call (814) 734-6699 to register.

Erie area eighth and ninth-grade students are invited to Mercyhurst College to explore career pathways as part of a three-day Game of Life Future Fair offered June 23-25 by the Mercyhurst College Aspirations Program. The FREE sessions, from 5 to 7 pm each day, take place in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center on Mercyhurst’s Erie campus, and include a light dinner and prize giveaways. The project aims to help students make the most of their high school years by exploring future career paths, particularly opportunities in the Erie area, and identifying realistic options toward preparing for careers in those fields. Program organizers say that research suggests students who explore career preferences during middle school are more focused and more successful during their high school years. Pre-registration is not required; for more information, contact Jillian Perfetti at jperfe43@mercyhurst.edu.

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.

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.

Russ Combs, executive director of Gannon University’s Erie Technology Incubator (ETI) will address ETI’s plans to provide “new economy” job opportunities in Erie and the assistance available to local companies, during the upcoming Eggs ‘n’ Issues briefing starting at 8 am Thursday, June 26, at the Manufacturers’ Association Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street at Pittsburgh Avenue. All media are invited to attend. Located at the former Boys & Girls Club site at 130 West Eighth Street, ETI is open to any company using advanced technology, but focuses on three technology sectors, including: information technology, such as software development; engineering technology; and scientific technology, such as alternative energy or medical devices. It is an entrepreneurial environment that fosters innovation and collaboration among its companies and the public and private sectors, while providing support services customized to the unique needs of each client. Combs, who has more than 20 years of experience in working with companies in this capacity, has been head of ETI since August 2007. He previously was the executive director of the Business Incubation Group of Shenandoah (Va) Region, a position he held from 2004 until his move to Erie. To register for this briefing, contact Tracy Shepard at (814) 833-3200 or (800) 815-2660. Cost is $30 for members, $60 for nonmembers.

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 Erie Lions Club Save an Eye City vs County All-Star football game will be held July 25 at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium, 26th and State Streets. The major purpose of the Save An Eye Game is to raise money to provide free eye care to low income children.

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.