We here at ErieBlogs.com missed you yesterday. An Expedient router went out somewhere and internet service to many local businesses were offline for much of the morning yesterday.
Work will finally begin next week on the airport runway extension. All told the project will cost nearly $80.5 million. The Erie Regional Airport Authority also gave airport executive direct Christopher Rodgers a three year contract extension.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Senator Bob Casey Jr. both spoke at the Democratic National Convention last night. You can read the transcript of Rendells speech here and Casey’s speech here. The theme of Rendell’s speech involved energy dependence and policy while Casey spoke mostly of why Obama would be a good president. The picture to the right is the elaborate podium where the two politicians spoke from.
Lucas Hall, 24, of Erie has escaped from a Chautauqua County jail during a work detail yesterday afternoon. Authorities believe he may be headed back to Pennsylvania. Hall is six feet and 200 pounds with blond hair. That should narrow it down for you.
Gregory Finney of Erie pleaded guilty yesterday to several charges, including fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. Finney was owner of A&M Homes and bought a number of low priced homes that were in need of repair. In a lawsuit brought by Eloise Woodsbey, it was claimed that A&M Homes bought the property for $20,200. Finney did a bit of repair and cosmetic fixes and Woodsbey bought it for $49,900 when it was really worth maybe $30,000. Regal Financial financed the loan and said the home was worth over $50,000. Expect more lawsuits and charges being filed in similar suits for the foreseeable future.
The U.S. Census Bureau has release new estimates as to the poverty rate for a number of Pennsylvania cities. Out of the largest cities in the state, Erie has the second highest poverty rate of almost 25% which is determined by income (roughly $23,000 annually) and number of family members in a household. Reading has the highest rate of about 35% followed by Philadelphia 24% and Pittsburgh 21%.
Ed Palatella of the Erie Times-News has an article about Greg Rubino’s hard drive. It was seized by the state Attorney General’s office in April during an investigation. Rubino wants the drive back, as it has financial information about his Tecnica Development Corporation, which worked with Presque Isle Downs. He’s not alone in his quest for this holy grail – the Erie County Convention Center also wants the drive, as they are currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Nick Scott. Confused? Yeah, us too.
Erie is featured in this article from the National Post of Canada about rib festivals and cook-offs.
After more than six decades as the premier organization for marketing and communications professionals in the region, the Erie Advertising Club is changing its name, increasing its reach and strengthening its vision as it becomes the Advertising Federation of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Tonight, the organization will unveil their new logo at their “Brews and Dues” event held at the Brewerie at Union Station. The suds start flowing at 5:30 p.m.
The Community Blood Bank is worried about the last big event of the summer for the blood supply. Labor Day Weekend is traditionally one of the three worst weekends of the year. The blood supply is currently at about 75% of optimal safe levels but this is expect to steadily fall as the number of blood donors this week drops as we head into the holiday. This summer has been the worst in over 10 years and won’t be over until mid-September, when the high school and college blood drives start up again. 17% of all the blood transfused last year came from students. If you can, please donate!
The Seawolves continue their winning ways, beating Harrisburg 4-3 at the Uht. Josh Kite improved to 3-0 on the season.
Allegheny College has received a grant of $102,284 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support student summer research at the Research Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest. Professor of Physics and Chemistry David Statman will accompany the students to Hungary. While there, the students will work with Statman and with established scientists, graduate students, undergraduate students and technicians from Hungary, as well as other European Union (EU) and non-EU countries.
The Waterford Community Fair will begin Monday, September 1, and go through Saturday, September 6. The fair will have a number of events going on every day including truck, tractor, and horse pulls, livestock judging, rides, and more. Our favorite event? The blue ribbon apple pie contest of course.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Erie Block Party only has two more Thursday events. August 28 the party will be at the Plymouth with performers Key West Express, and the September 4 party will be at Scully’s with performer Money Shot.
Every Friday at 8 p.m., now until September 26 (exception: September 5th) the Erie County Historical Society will hold a Ghosts and Legends Tour. Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie through a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. Since size of group tour is limited, reservations required; call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.
The 12th Annual Erie German Heritage Festival will be held August 30-31 at the Shriner’s Club Grounds. Don’t worry about eating too much wienersnitzels and sauerkraut since there will be ton of music and dancing going on. For more information visit the official website.
The nineteenth annual Silberman Recital Series at Allegheny College will feature performances by one of the country’s newest chamber music groups as well as musicians who have earned critical acclaim over decades of work on the concert stage and in the recording studio. The series will open with Manhattan Piano Trio on Monday, Sept. 8.
Erie to host young professionals from across the state at Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference ERIE, PA — Young professionals, business executives and civic leaders from across the state are invited to take part the Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference, being held Sept. 12-14 at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. This marks the first year the ImPAct Conference (Innovative Minds Creating Pennsylvania’s Tomorrow) will be held in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Eerie Horror Film Festival is partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor the “Monster Wish” charity walk & fun run at Presque Isle on September 13th. The walk/run sign in will be at beach one at 10:00 a.m., and the Mayor will be present to impart a few words of inspiration to the participants before the walk starts. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Foundation. Please contact Melissa Bostaph at (814) 899-0407 for more information.
Steelers fans should be excited to read this. A celebrity pro party will be held by sports artist Kevin-John along with former Pittsburgh Steelers players on September 14th, 2008 at the Brewerie in downtown Erie. The Steelers versus the Browns will be the game of the week and televised at the party with the red carpet walk beginning at 6 p.m. The Hollywood style celebrity party is a fund raiser for the Willie Williams Show Them We Care Foundation for children’s education. Tickets begin at $35. For more information visit the official website.
Advance tickets are on sale for the Saturday, Sept. 20 performance by famed comedy troupe “The Second City” at Allegheny College. The performance, part of the college’s Family Weekend and 2008-09 Centerstage Series, will begin at 8 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium. Tickets for the performance — $10 if purchased on or before Sept. 6; $15 after Sept. 6 and at the door — can be purchased in the college’s Office of Conference and Event Services, 006 Reis Hall. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.allegheny.edu/events or over the phone, at 814-332-3101, with Mastercard or Visa. Audiences should note that Second City’s humor contains language and situations some may find offensive.
The Erie based non-profit Gem City Concert Band is seeking new members for the Fall 2008 season. The 50 member concert band is under the direction of Scott Tomlison and plays a variety of music styles such as old overtures, show tunes, traditional concert band pieces, movie scores, and marches. Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. with Fall ’08 rehearsals beginning September 9th. All instruments are welcomed. Membership is free and interested musicians should call 814-899-8467, email, or visit the official website.
Erie non-profit group Therapy Dogs United, Inc., in conjunction with the American Kennel Club, will host the area’s only Responsible Dog Ownership Day at Frontier Park (north side) Saturday, September 20th, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, rain or shine. Event highlights include a Blessing of the Dogs, Parade of Breeds, agility demonstrations, special appearance by search and rescue dogs, K9 police units, and therapy dogs. Other activities include Canine CPR, Pet First Aid, dog rescue groups, animal safety demonstrations, live acoustic music, contests, prizes, chinese auciton, animal-related vendors.
Pull out your finest and join us for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Second Chance Prom to benefit the non-profit foundation. The event will be held Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Siebenbuerger Club, from 7-11 p.m. (dinner at 8pm). $15 per person Includes: buffet dinner, DJ, fun & games. Dinner starts at 8 p.m. and there is a cash bar. Please contact Amy Bement at the JDRF Office for more information and tickets at (814) 452-0635.
The State Library of Pennsylvania will celebrate its second annual Genealogy Day on Saturday,
Sept. 20. This free event will have exhibits and information sessions on various subject areas. For additional information, please contact Marc Bender at (717) 705-6272.
The Wine Country Harvest Festival, hosted by the North East Chamber of Commerce, will be held September 28-30. Expect a variety of music, food, arts & crafts, champagne breakfast, Cruise In, Children’s Area, winery tours, wagon rides, wine and food seminars, wine by the glass, and souvenirs. There will be 5 wineries in the wine tent this year, serving more than 40 varieties of wine, along with free shuttle service to the wineries and to other attractions in town.
The first Lindsay Graygo Memorial 5K Run/Walk will be held on October 4, 2008 at Beach One of Presque Isle. All proceeds of the run/walk will go to the Lindsay Graygo Empowerment Scholarship. Here’s a registration form.
