From reading the local blogs yesterday, it seems a lot of people had trouble getting their cars going in the sub-zero temperatures. Ron struggled, and Michael managed to get his car going but he locked himself out of his running car.
We broke the story yesterday that Lord Corporation has laid off 46 employees. The job losses were divided between their Erie and Cary, N.C. facilities. The cuts were across the board. 31 of the positions were split between Erie and Cary and 15 are in a manufacturing facility in Kentucky. The cuts were made last night and employees were notified this morning. LORD originated in Erie more than 80 years ago. Operating from world headquarters in Cary, N.C., LORD has 17 manufacturing facilities in nine countries and 90 strategically located sales and support centers worldwide.
More bad news. We reported back in November on election day that the Circuit City in Erie would remain open despite the retailer filing for bankruptcy. Circuit City has since decided to liquidate all its stores, and that means the Erie store will close and employees there will lose their jobs.
MTR Gaming is laying off 175 workers at its Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort located in West Virginia. MTR is one of the largest employers in that region of the state and the layoff amounts to almost 10% of its workforce. The recent layoff is in addition to the 93 that were cut in November. There are no plans to cuts employees at Presque Isle Downs and Casino but we’re not holding our breath.
REthink Erie is preparing for an online survey to take place January 28 through February 6, 2009. The question: should Erie pursue establishing a community college. You can find out more about the organization here.
The Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA), headquartered in Erie, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Harrisburg office at 4 p.m. Monday, January 26, at 600 North Third Street. Just steps from the Capitol building, the new office will house the Association’s registered lobbyist based in the state capital, as well as space for visiting Association Board members and representatives from member companies throughout the Commonwealth.
Lake Erie Biofuels announced it is ready to step up to the plate and help fulfill the state’s upcoming B2 mandate. The B2 mandate relates to legislation passed in July 2008 which requires diesel to contain a blend of 2% biodiesel (B2) no later than January 2010. The legislation was contingent upon the in-state production of 40 million gallons biodiesel which Governor Rendell recently announced has been met.
Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper has opened an office at 208 East Bayfront Parkway, Erie, PA, 16507. The office is fully staffed to address the needs of Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District. Additional office arrangements are being made for other counties in the district and announcements will be forthcoming. The Erie office will have extended hours on Tuesdays until 6:30pm to accommodate constituents unable to come by in customary business hours. Office hours are as follows:
Mondays 9:00am to 5:00pm
Tuesdays 9:00am to 6:30pm
Wednesdays 9:00am to 5:00pm
Thursdays 9:00am to 5:00pm
Fridays 9:00am to 4:30pm
Constituents may contact Dahlkemper’s Erie office at 814-456-2038 or 1-877-
KATHY4U (1-877-528-4948).
More additions to the Erie Twitter Guide today – this time it’s local businesses McCarty Printing and Walco Label. It’s awesome to see businesses jump on and try it out. Don’t forget – ErieBlogs is on Twitter too!
This year marks the 15th academic year that Archie Loss, professor of English and American studies at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is teaching American Studies 105: American Popular Culture and Folklife, a course about 1960s America that was first offered at the college in 1993.
We found this picture on Flickr that was taken yesterday. It appears that someone in Los Angeles is representin’ his peeps back here in Erie. To be honest, we were drawn to it because of the palm tree.
Sports
The Otters lost to the Niagara IceDogs last night 4-2. Tonight the Otters play the Sarnia Sting at the Tullio. Get your tickets here.
Sunday the Erie BayHawks will play against the Dakota Wizards in Bismarck, North Dakota.
NFL Sunday playoff schedule:
Philadelphia Eaglesat Arizona Cardinals 3:00 p.m. on FOX HD
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers 6:30 p.m. CBS HD
The Gannon University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams swept Penn State-Behrend Friday at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion. The men won 114-96 and the Lady Knights took a 120-66 decision.
Sophomore Ryan Zapolski made 30 saves and assisted on the game-winning score as the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team defeated Sacred Heart, 2-1, in an Atlantic Hockey contest Friday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Edinboro opened Eastern Wrestling League competition in impressive fashion on Friday night, winning nine of ten bouts to defeat Clarion, 36-4, at McComb Fieldhouse. The victory boosted the 16th-ranked Fighting Scots to 8-4 and was the 20th straight EWL dual meet win.
Events
The annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held at the Hammermill Center for two days from January 16-17. Tickets can be purchased through the Prep athletic office. The McDonald’s Classic is a four team boys basketball tournament featuring some of the best talent the United States has to offer. This is the 26th year the classic has been held since 1983.
There will be a rededication ceremony of the civil war monument in Girard on Saturday, February 14 at noon. The monument was originally paid for and erected by the esteemed late Girard resident Dan Rice, and was one of the first civil war monuments erected in the country. There will be a reception along with President Lincoln and Dan Rice impersonators immediately following at the Methodist Church of Girard Social Room.
The Girard Cabin Fever Festival will be held Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 1 – 5 p.m. at the Girard High School. Sled riding, snowmobile rides, crafts, and other entertainment to help break up the winter doldrums.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra will hold its monthly concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in the University’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 520 Peach St. This performance will be the “Guess the Composer Concert.” Free and open to the public. Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra is conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright. For more information, call 814-871-7755.
The Allegheny College softball program will host back-to-back clinics for girls ages 10 through 18 at the David V. Wise Center on Sunday, Feb. 22. The first clinic, which will run from 9 a.m. until noon, will focus on hitting. After a half-hour break, a defensive clinic will take place from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m. Each clinic costs $40, however if attending both, the cost is $70. The camp features a teaching staff that consists of both Gator players and coaches. The staff includes Allegheny head softball coach Sandra Sanford, assistant coaches Danielle Fraser and Jennifer Wardwell, and members of the Gator roster. For additional information, please contact Coach Sanford at 814-332-2815 or sandra.sanford@allegheny.edu.
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.
