We’ve not hidden our thoughts that PA’s liquor laws are woefully archaic. If you go to a grocery store in New York or Ohio, you can easily buy a 6 pack of beer, but not so in PA. However, things might be changing. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court made a ruling yesterday that now allows beer sales to take place at restaurants run by the Wegmans supermarket chain. The Pennsylvania Malt Beverage Distributors Association is planning on appealing the decision to the state Supreme Court since its constituency has a monopoly it would rather not lose. Wegmans has two stores in Erie that could potentially sell beer to customers. The court ruling applies only to licenses approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for Wegmans stores in Bethlehem and Williamsport, Pa.
Erie County Judge William Cunningham has allowed Teri Rhodes, convicted of manslaughter in the death of her newborn baby, to leave prison on $25,000 while she appeals her sentence. Cunningham said Rhodes is not a flight risk, despite being sentenced originally to 9 to 18 years in prison. She left prison today and will return to Michigan with her parents. We’ll admit we’re a little surprised, considering she isn’t appealing her conviction but rather the sentence.
The two MENSA members who torched the Gudgeonville Bridge have also been charged for committing several robberies in Conneautvile, Crawford County. Jeffrey Gleason and Joshua Bell waived their preliminary hearing yesterday.
An illegal gambling operation was busted in a building on W. 12th Street near Buddha’s. No arrests were made, but the Texas Hold-Em games were put to an end. The problem was the people running the operation were raking the pots.
Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is back in Erie County Prison. She will soon have a hearing to determine if she will stand trial in the death of pizza delivery man Brian Wells.
A recent study by Hamot Hospital was featured in the NY Times. The study reveals there is confusion by medical professionals including medical technicians and paramedics as to how to what exactly a living wills means. Apparently the mere existence of a living will is interpreted to mean that end of life care should involve only comfort and not to save the life of the patient. You can read the article here.
HarborVette Corvette Restorations is featured in this blog post at CorvetteFever.com. Nice work.
Sunburst Electronics, a contract manufacturer of electronic controls, has achieved ISO 13485 certification, a quality management standard for medical device manufacturing developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and through that process also upgraded its ISO 9001 quality system to the 2008 standard.
Richard Rabuck, state government relations representative in the Manufacturer & Business Association’s Harrisburg office, was recently named president of the Harrisburg Trade Association Executives (HTAE). The group represents more than 25 statewide trade associations and is designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas between the leaders of the various associations. In this role, Rabuck will be responsible for organizing monthly meetings of the group with key state and federal government leaders, as well as bringing issues to the group for debate.
The funeral for John Kanzius was held yesterday. You can read about John Kanzius’ life and achievements in an entry written by Kristin.
Sports
The Erie Otters play an away game this Friday night against the London Knights and return to Erie on Saturday to play the Ottawa 67s . Get your tickets here.
There will be an Erie Otters player appearance at the Taco Bell on lower Peach Street today from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The Erie BayHawks beat the Iowa Energy last night 114-101 to win their 7th straight game. The ‘Hawks return to Erie this Thursday, February 26 to play the Dakota Wizards. Get your tickets here.
Baseball season is right around the corner and the Erie SeaWolves announce today their Opening Day of Ticket Sales will be held on Saturday, March 21 at Jerry Uht Park from 12p.m. until 4 p.m. This day will be the first opportunity for SeaWolves fans to purchase individual game tickets, pick up mini packs and enjoy their first trip to the ballpark in 2009.
Events
Terrence Cavanaugh, the recently appointed president and CEO of Erie Insurance Group, will be the guest speaker at the Manufacturer and Business Association’s February Eggs ‘n’ Issues briefing, starting at 8 a.m. this morning at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street at Pittsburgh Avenue.
The Women’s Round Table of Erie presents “Interesting Women Doing Interesting Things” by Atty Nadia Harvard at 5:30 p.m. today at the Erie Maennorchor Club, 1607 State Street in Erie, PA. The presentation will be on ethical wills. For reservations contact Hospitality Director, Jill Marince, (814) 392-1577.
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and LORD Corporation will host an information session for the LORD Scholarship Program—a unique program for students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in engineering, technical and science disciplines at Penn State Behrend. The information session will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Samuel P. “Pat” Black III Conference Center located in the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC) at Penn State Behrend. Parking will be available in the REDC deck located on Technology Drive, off Jordan Road.
State Representatives Michele Brooks (R – Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer), Pat Harkins (D – Erie), John Hornaman (D – Erie), Brad Roae (R – Crawford) and Flo Fabrizio (D – Erie) will address area business and community leaders during a legislative luncheon starting at noon Wednesday, February 25, at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m. The legislative panel will provide insight on issues such as health-care reforms, business taxes, labor laws and tort reform, and the 2009-10 state budget. Following their discussion, they will take part in a question-and-answer session. To register for this briefing, contact Tracy Shepard at 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660. Cost is $30 for members; $60 for nonmembers; and includes lunch.
Upcoming Erie Concerts and Shows:
March 7: Motley Crue w/ Hinder, Last Vegas, Theory of a Deadman, Tullio Arena (tickets)
March 22: New Kids on the Block, Tullio Arena (tickets on sale 1/24)
March 29: Comedian Lewis Black, Warner Theatre (tickets)
View this past Sunday’s comprehensive Erie events list to see what’s coming up for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form.
I work in the greater Bethlehem area, not far from the Wegmans which now allows the sale of beer. I've got to say – it's pretty convenient to grab a 6 pack of specialty brew while picking up your groceries! You can also grab a single and have it with your lunch, if you'd like.
Also, the restaurant located in this Wegmans is almost opulent for a grocery store. It's located on a second story of the store above the specialty foods / beer area. I think they even offer space for workplace functions there, as well. It's a nice store all around.
Sorry Pennsylvania – Down here in Florida you can buy beer in many places – Grocery stores – 7-11's etc… The liquor stores are often connected to Walgreen's and there are wine and liquor stores in most major areas.
There are good things and bad things about both situations. Down here we have a much larger transient problem due to the warm weather, so when they get a few bucks scrounged up, it is easy for them to get a bottle to go.
This makes the trash problem much bigger also. Transients don't concern themselves much about recycling. I don't drink much, so it makes no difference to me. When I lived in Erie, I knew when I was going to want some been and just planned that stop accordingly.
The only difference when they get rid of the current system is who is making all the big bucks. It won't be the state any more. Erie should be glad it is not a dry town. Believe it or not there is one about 80 miles away from Erie.
Huzzah for Wegman's! Now let's start chipping away at wine. @inked – which town do you mean?