Mornin’, folks. Looks to be a beautiful day in Erie. We’re thinking of hitting the trails at Presque Isle. What are you up to?
Erie Indemnity Company has announced Marcia A. Dall as its chief financial officer, effective March 30, 2009. Dall succeeds Philip A. Garcia who served the company for 28 years, 11 years as its CFO.
With Wegmans selling beer now in its 2 Erie stores, Giant Eagle is now in the planning stages to start to sell beer. A store in Pittsburgh will be the first, but it they get state approval, expect more and more stores to follow suit. Locally, we think the sure bet would be the Summit store, with its built-in prepared and hot foods area. Six pack sales have to be part of a restaurant. The PG has more.
In an effort to save money, the Blasco Library will be closed on Sundays starting June 1. They are currently only open 4 hours on those days, but those hours count as overtime. That’s a bummer – a lot of people use the services on Sunday. Can’t we get some volunteers to help man some services on Sundays?
A man was fatally shot on E. 11th St. over night. Police have not made an arrest yet.
ERIE Bank, which has been in the Erie area for a few years, is planning to open a branch in Meadville. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is balking at the bank’s request to demolish an old, unused and decrepit building in downtown Meadville. Local officials support the demolition – as a new building would bring in tax revenues not currently being generated by the empty building and several new jobs at the bank branch.
The Travelodge Hotel on upper Peach has been sued for collecting but not paying Erie County $231,000 in hotel tax proceeds.
Delays and the latest DEP rejection of the city’s plan to clean up the Ere Golf Club could lead to the course not opening this year. It has been closed for the last few years. Let’s get it open and get some money coming in.
Damere Talmadge’s trial began yesterday with a stunner right out of Law and Order. His attorney announced during opening arguments that Talmadge did not injure the child. The child’s mother, Cierra Johnson, has already pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges and will testify against Talmadge in the case.
The Erie Art Museum, boasting more than 6,000 objects in its permanent
collection, has loaned approximately 25 paintings for display in the offices of Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, County Executive Mark Divecchio and Judge John Garhart. A significant number of pottery and crystal objects as well as paintings and prints complement the Museum’s extensive collection of American and Eurpoean paintings, drawings and sculpture, American ceramics, contemporary baskets, and Tibetan painting, augmented by European and Japanese graphics and artists of the Erie region.
A mere one year into her career as an intelligence analyst, Erie native and Mercyhurst College graduate Amanda Post is at the top of her game, earning not one, but two, coveted awards, and those distinctions have had a ripple effect on her alma mater. In March, she joined the ranks of the Federal 100, which recognizes individuals from government, industry and academia who have made significant contributions to the federal informational technology community. The awards, decided by a distinguished panel of judges, are bestowed annually by the 1105 Government Information Group and Federal Computer Week.
Sports
The Erie BayHawks (23-21) fought from behind all night, but fell short to a dominating Colorado 14ers 119 – 103 at the Tullio Arena, before a new record BayHawk crowd of 4345. 14er Sonny Weems, on assignment from the NBA Denver Nuggets, put on a one man offensive show hitting 15 of 22 from the field and notching a game high 36 points. Josh Davis and Joe Dabbert combined for 18 and 14 respectively in the win.
The BayHawks will take on the Los Angeles D-Fenders Sunday, with tip off set for 2 PM at the Tullio Arena. The first 1500 fans will receive a BayHawks lithograph by nationally recognized Erie sports artist Kevin John Jobczynski courtesy of General Electric Federal Credit Union and Gohrs Printing. The full BayHawks line up will participate in an autograph session at the conclusion of the game. The family friendly game will also feature $1 hot dogs courtesy of Smith Provisions.
Edinboro guard Joe Jones played in the NABC Division II All-Star Game on Friday night in Springfield, Mass.
It's my understanding that the county union won't allow volunteers to do many of the necessary jobs at the library. At least, that was the case several years ago when Blasco first opened.
“The Erie Art Museum, boasting more than 6,000 objects in its permanent
collection, has loaned approximately 25 paintings for display in the offices of Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, County Executive Mark Divecchio and Judge John Garhart.”
My question is what happens if and or when the items are damaged? Who is the responsible party. As the director of a museum in Florida, I have a set policy that nothing goes out of the museum.
People give items to the museum, not necessary to be loaned out all over the county. I question this, when there are local artists who are more than willing to let their work be displayed for free in exchange for some exposure.
Once something is damaged, it can't be easily replaced.
Just my opinion.
Why not close on a day, when more people are likely to be at work and less likely to be at the library. Sunday seems like a day when people have no work commitments they might be able to go to the library, and it will be closed.
Also, what about all the night before research before papers are due? That is when I did all mine – lol
Inked~the county is in severe financial trouble, the four Sunday hours are the most expensive due to overtime costs and number of employees required. There are six other days to visit at a much lower cost to the county. You should get off your butt and finish your papers before the last day. LOL
Point is, the Library is a great asset to the community, but far from a vital necessity. When you are out of cash, the least necessary things are the first to go, at least in my home.
I understand, but if they kept Sunday, and lost say four hours out of the middle of the week, say, give everyone 2 hour lunches, they could stay open on a weekend.
Thus reducing the hours, and keeping Sunday – sometimes you have to think outside the box and get creative.
Sometime the people who make the decisions, take the easy way out.
You would have to close 6 hours during the week to make up 4 hours on Sunday because the employees make 1.5 times their regular daily pay on a Sunday.
You also have to consider that the Blasco Library is a district center, meaning they support every library in Erie County and also provide assistant to libraries in Crawford County. They are mandated to be open a certain number of hours per week in order to receive extra funding to be a district center. Closing during the week is not feasbile when the Blsaco Library is supporting all these other libraries.
I think what would be really great, would be for the ASCME to ask their members to volunteer an hour or two a week to help keep the facility operating.
Many businesses give employees time off to do community service, why could not the Union give a tiny concession in this situation? It would also go a long way toward creating a better feeling toward the unions, who are not viewed in a very good light by the community. It would certainly show that the union leaders were concerned about the entire community, and not just their own little agenda.
I am sure there is some compromise to be had to keep the library open. There has got to be some area in the entire city or county budget that very few people care or know about that could be gotten rid of to keep the libraries open.
Perhaps a little less salary to some overpaid official who is actually doing less than their share or some perk that somebody is taking advantage of like a county car and gas. One less county car a year with the payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance could go a long way to this end.
Follow some of the employees around in their assigned vehicles and take it away from them when you catch them running personal errands or even napping in their car. Take it and use the funds to serve the community.
Whoa, Dale… did you just refer to the library as one of “the least necessary things.” I am disturbed by this statement.
Jonathan~Probably not the best choice of words on my part. I was trying to make the point that there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to utilize the library. Granted, some will not be able to get there, but I don't feel closing for four hours on Sunday is a major problem in the short term.
I would think closing the library during it's busiest 4 hour period is indeed a major problem. I would bet more than “some” would not be able to get there if it is closed Sundays–there is a reason why it is the busiest day of the week for the library.
Cutting one hour a day Monday thru Saturday would reap the same savings and allow better access to an important part of our community.