Former Erie firefighter Mary Wolski, who lost her job after setting her father’s house on fire in 2006, filed a complaint in federal court in an attempt to fight her termination. Wolski claims she was fired in violation of the American with Disabilities Act since she suffered from severe depression and that the City of Erie was aware of her condition. Fire Chief Tony Pol told Wolski that the incident rendered her “presumptively unsuited to be a firefighter.” Sounds like Wolski and former EMTA bus driver David Justka have something in common and should get together, share a beer, and trade stories.
Erie County Council met last night to take a final vote on the 2009 budget. The $78 million budget includes a property tax increase as well as dozens of job cuts. County Executive Mark DiVecchio had proposed the budget without a tax increase, but since that time Council has discovered a $2.5 million shortfall. The fate of the Presque Isle library branch was also up for discussion, with the proposal that the branch should be closed January 1st to save around $300,000.
As discussed yesterday here on ErieBlogs, The Erie Times-News announced it will layoff 25 employees as a cost-cutting move (despite an increase in readership). Just in the nick of time, blogging company SixApart is helping laid off journalists with its “TypePad Journalist Bailout Program.” The program offers free hosting of a professional blogging platform ($150) and an opportunity to earn advertising revenue for those journalists recently laid-off or expecting the ax to drop any day now. Let us know if you sign up for the program and we’ll be happy to promote your site here on ErieBlogs.
Erie Plastics in Corry has been purchased by Berry Plastics of Evansville, Indiana for $6.7 million. Erie Plastics had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six weeks ago. The sale means that the plant will close, and 200 employees will lose their jobs.
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court reversed a requirement by the state auditor general that would have had Erie repay nearly $900,000 in state pension aid. The original judgement in 2006 found that the city had received excess aid for police officers and firefighters who participated in a retroactive retirement program. The new ruling states that those in the program were active employees, and therefore the city was eligible for state aid for them.
No verdict has yet been reached in the federal trial of retired Judge Michael Joyce. The first day of jury deliberations was yesterday, and they will resume again this morning.
Terry Sherlock, 34, of Erie County was convicted of murdering a man who was accused of molesting Sherlock’s 10 year old son. Sherlock’s attorney argued for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter due to the circumstances but the jury instead found he was guilty of third-degree murder. Sherlock could face up to a 40-year prison sentence when he appears for sentencing on January 15.
John Melody, formerly managing partner at Molly Brannigan’s, has become a major gifts officer at Mercyhurst College. Melody graduated from Mercyhurst in 1990, and also coached soccer there form 1994-2002 before leaving to open the downtown Irish pub.
Parts of Presque Isle State Park will be closed December 10-12 for deer hunting of both antlered and antlerless deer. All that’s necessary to participate is a valid PA hunting license, and hunters may use a shotgun, muzzleloader, or bow. Hunters interested in participating should apply at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center before December 9th.
Sports
Indoor football league team the Erie RiverRats have a weekly question and answer session called “Ask the Coach.” Steve Folmar, head coach of the Rats, will answer any question you have about the leauge and will post his response on the team’s website. Email your questions to coachfolmar@erieriverrats.com. The Erie RiverRats will kickoff their upcoming ‘09 season in March.
The Erie SeaWolves annual holiday card design contest is closed and an announcement will be made as to the winner this Friday, November 21. The winning artwork from the contest will be featured on thousands of official Erie SeaWolves holiday greeting cards. The artist chosen as the grand-prize winner will receive a pizza party for their class with SeaWolves mascot “C. Wolf.”
The Erie BayHawks will host open auditions for groups and individuals interested in singing the National Anthem at a BayHawks game. Auditions will also be held for athletic individuals interested in playing the team’s mascot Clutch. Auditions will be held this Sunday, November 23rd at the Erie Playhouse, 13 West 10th Street from 3 – 5 p.m. For more information call (814) 790-5600 or visit ErieBayHawks.com
The Erie Illusion has been awarded a full membership into the Independent Women’s Football League. The Illusion will be placed in the IWFL Eastern Conference in time for the 2009 season.
The Erie Otters next game is this Friday visiting the Kitchener Rangers and will return home Saturday to play the London Knights.
Events
Sam Moss, president of Gray Matters Capital, will give the keynote presentation of Allegheny’s E-Week celebration. His talk — titled “Investing in the World’s Poor: Can You Have High Social Impact and Financial Return?” — will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. in Henderson Auditorium of Quigley Hall and is free and open to the public.
The Highmark Caring Place has planned the first “Child Grief Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania on November 20. Students in over 100 schools in Erie, Pittsburgh, and Central PA will have activities to raise awareness about grief and to learn about resources available the Highmark Caring Place, a center that offers support groups and referral services for children coping with the death of a loved one. The Caring Place has locations in Pittsburgh, Erie and in Lemoyne, Pa. and will open a new facility in Warrendale, Pa., in early 2009. In Erie County, participating schools include Bethel Christian, Diehl, Erie Day School, schools in the Erie Catholic Diocese, Glenwood, Harding, McDowell, Our Lady’s Christian School, Parker Middle School, Pfeiffer-Burleigh, and Walnut Creek.
Blasco Memorial Library will host a Great American Smokeout event on Thursday, November 20, from 10 am to 4 pm. The program will feature information and support for smoking cessation, and the first 25 people to sign a pledge to quit will receive a free quit kit.
View this past Sunday’s comprehensive events list to see a list of events for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form.
