Erie City Council will propose an amendment to the zoning code requiring all people giving massages to have a degree or certificate, pending a state law that takes effect in 2010 requiring all persons offering massage services to be state licensed. We’re not sure why city officials haven’t cracked down harder on several massage “parlors” in the city.

Judge Ernie DiSantis has thrown out an appeal and will allow construction of a cell tower in Scott Park to move forward. Millcreek Township will get $12,000 a year to have the tower there, and that amount will increase yearly over the next 24 years.

Speaking of Millcreek, school taxes may be on the rise. Officials are examining a 0.24 mill increase, bringing the total tax rate to 14.4 mills.

The Detroit News has an interesting story about the closing of a GM dealership in Sandy Lake, about an hour south of Erie.

Alfred Ligamarri was sentenced to 47 years in prison on charges of criminal sexual acts including sexual abuse, attempted rape and endangering the welfare of a child in Rochester, NY. After testifying in his trial, Ligamarri fled to Erie.

Kyle J. Goldcamp was awarded the Medal of Honor at the May Commencement ceremony for Gannon University. The Gannon University Medal of Honor is awarded to a graduating senior who, by vote of the University’s faculty and students, has done the most in the class to further the interests of the University, to foster loyal collegiate spirit, and to carry out the ideals of the Christian life.

Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play in the Stanley Cup final for the second straight year after beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 to sweep the series. They’ll face the winner of the Detroit-Chicago series. Go Pens!

I love the fact that hockey players are so superstitious. One of these superstitions is that the team that wins their conference finals receives a trophy, in the Penguins case, the Prince of Wales trophy. Very rarely do players even touch that trophy – it’s a superstition.

Dan Cox of the Toronto Star says:

In recent years, team after team had declined even to touch the trophies for winning the Eastern or Western Conference, with the silly excuse being “that wasn’t the trophy they wanted” in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Last year, the Penguins didn’t touch it, and they lost the finals, so last night, they picked it up. Here’s video:

We love hockey. FYI – Mario Lemieux picked up the trophy in 1991 and they won a Cup. Let’s hope that carries over to this team.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch is reporting that the Erie Seawolves may be looking to relocate to Richmond. Hall of famer Nolan Ryan is looking into bring a team into that area. Reporter John O’Connor has this to say about Erie:

The Erie, Pa., franchise of the Eastern League also may be an option for relocation to Richmond, according to sources, who declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

The SeaWolves took down the Harrisburg Senators on Tuesday night at Metro Bank Park, 6-3 in 10 innings.

Events