Well, I think at this point we can call the Christmas holiday over – bad news for the local economy is flying left and right.
Troyer Farms recently sold to Bickel’s Snack Foods (Hanover Foods) and promised the sale would not result in layoffs. Someone had their fingers crossed behind their back because yesterday the company laid off 70 workers. We had hoped the sale of the plant would save some jobs, but maybe we’re naïve. The cuts included positions in the production and warehousing areas as well as the administrative offices. We’re done buying their chips.
Erie Shipbuilding is also laying off 30 workers, though various news outlets say it’s a temporary cut as they await additional materials. Jeff at Erie Shipping News reports they have work – including working on a new 840 foot tug boat.
The Salvation Army ended their Red Kettle Drive about $34,000 or 20% behind what they collected last year. They say the economy as well as several large winter storms for the decline in giving. The funds raised by the Salvation Army benefit people in our area year round.
There was a power outage last night that affected the upper Peach Street area, which is probably the one place you don’t want to be stuck if there are no lights. Traffic was backed up for a long time, and many businesses were without power, including WJET. It blacked out for us during the 5 p.m. news.
Someone hit up Presque Isle sometime during the weekend and left graffiti on several of the duck blinds as well as writing the word “love” on the road near the exit of the park. The person wrote on the duck blinds “extend the circle of love to all creatures.” If you know the vandal with the heart of gold, please talk to Presque Isle officials who would like to extend some love to him or her.
Outgoing congressional representative Phil English finally caught a break. Steven Porter’s defamation lawsuit which was filed in 2007 against English, was dismissed by the federal judge hearing the matter. Porter was upset that English used a quote from Porter’s book “The Ethics of a Democracy” out of context, making Porter look like a Nazi fascist who supports government sterilization.
You might remember last year the mortgage fraud that was perpetrated by a number of individuals in the Erie area that included Robert Dodsworth. Five people were part of a scheme to rip-off Erie residents by selling them sub-standard homes and would also manipulate the mortgage financing. The saga continues for two remaining participants in that scheme: Keith Rice and Francis Conti. Their attorneys have postponed the matter a number of times including last week when they asked Judge McLaughlin, and were granted, a request to move the trial to late next month. Funny how timing is everything. If Dodsworth, Rice, Conti and the other two men, Gregory Finney and Frank Kartesz, involved with the scheme wouldn’t have got caught until later this year, they could’ve asked the federal government for a bailout and got off scott-free.
Game Commissioner H. Daniel Hill III, of Erie, announced his resignation from the PA Board of Game Commissioners in light of his new position as Senior Policy Advisor to Congresswoman-elect Kathy Dahlkemper. Members of the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners are nominated by the Governor, confirmed by a majority vote of the Pennsylvania Senate to an eight-year term, and receive no salary. Since June 2005, Hill represented District 1, which includes Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, Butler, Warren, Forest and Clarion counties.
Thomas Hassett, director of international admissions at Gannon University, recently led a workshop in Nicosia, Cyprus. Hassett’s three-hour workshop, titled “U.S. Higher Education: What Students Need to Know before They Go,” was presented to about 60 educational advisors at the high school and college levels. Hassett discussed the college selection and admissions processes, financial aid sources and methodology, and Visa issuances for international students.
Gannon University has been awarded formal recognition by YÖK, the Ministry of Higher Education in Turkey. The Ministry of Higher Education’s decision to grant approved and recognized status to Gannon will allow for greater student mobility to the United States from Turkey, where government recognition of American colleges and universities is critical to the authentication of degrees earned from those schools, Hassett said.
During October and November, Seneca Gaming in Salamanca, NY, saw a 4.7% decrease in slots and a 15.0% decrease in table games. Overall Seneca saw a decrease in net revenue of 5.2% when compared to the same period last year. Earlier this month the State of New York announced it would begin taxing tobacco sales made in the Seneca territory.
Sports
As we predicted yesterday, Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel was fired yesterday. I think Browns officials were stunned when Bill Cowher said thanks but no thanks to the job. The search for another coach begins in Cleveland.
The Erie BayHawks will be away this Wednesday for New Year’s Eve, playing the Dakota Wizards. The 8 o’clock game will be in Bismark, North Dokota… on New Year’s Eve… in North Dakota. Our sympathy goes out to the team when they try to find some place to celebrate the New Year after the game. The entire county where Bismark is located only has about 70,000 people. The Hawks will then play the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Friday and Saturday in South Dakota. The guys just can’t catch a break.
The Erie Otters will play the Niagara IceDogs this Wednesday in Ontario and will return to the Tullio on Friday to play the Brampton Battalion, and on Saturday the Kitchener Rangers.
The Erie RiverRats are holding cheerleader tryouts for ladies who want to be a part of the ErieSistables. Auditions will be held at the Family First Sports Park on way upper Peach on Saturday, January 17, 2009. Registration is $15. For more information call Rebecca Rozic at 888-Riv-Rats or email.
The Gannon swimming and diving teams have come out of the gates in impressive fashion under first-year head coach Nate Walters. Both teams are ranked among the nation’s top 15, according to the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Post-Invitational Meet Power Rankings released Monday afternoon. The women’s team is ranked fifth while the men’s squad is tabbed 15th.
Events
The Erie Playhouse will hold its traditional New Year’s Gala concert December 31 at 7:30 p.m. wit a pre-show champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception will kick-off at 6:30 p.m. The Gala concert will feature highlights from the most produced and popular Erie Playhouse shows since opening night at their current West 10th Street location on December 31, 1983 – 25 years ago. Tickets are $35.
Jr’s Last Laugh will hold a New Years Party with live music with the M-80s, dancing, light appetizers, party hats and a champagne toast at midnight. There will also be a breakfast at 1:00 a.m. including french toast, pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, juice, and coffee. Tickets are $35 per person. Reservations required by calling (814) 461-0911. Jr’s is 100% smoke free.
The Zem Zem Shrine Club on 38th and Zuck will hold “2009 at the Shrine” New Years Eve Party on December 31, 2008. Entertainment includes Digital Thunder Mobile DJs and Dynamic Sounds with a light show, the area’s best entertainers, a huge projection screen with NYC ball drop, champagne toast, multiple full bars, and a full food menu. For more information visit the official website (beware of annoying audio ad that starts whether you want it to or not).
The Bayfront Convention Center presents “Boogie on the Bayfront,” to be held on New Year’s Eve, December 31. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., you can catch music by the band Redline, dancing, food, drink and free parking. Tickets are $40 per person and proceeds benefit the City of Erie Police and Fire departments. Here’s a flyer for the event.
Gannon University’s Schuster Gallery will host the exhibit “The Art and the Artist,” through January 16, 2009. The exhibit will feature the work of Vitus J. Kaiser who is a longtime art teacher in the Erie School District. A reception open to the public will be held from 3 – 6 p.m. on the opening day. The exhibit will be at the Schuster Gallery located in the Nash Library. For more information call (814) 871-5467.
Through December 31, turn your canned food into a FREE TAN & help those less fortunate this holiday. Sun Your Buns Tanning Salons have once again teamed up with the Second Harvest Food Bank this Holiday Season. Enjoy a FREE TAN with your canned food donation while helping to support a very needed and worth while cause in our community.
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.
